Control Channel Transmission Method and Apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a system and method of control channel transmission in the communications field, REs, except those used for transmitting a DMRS, are grouped in each physical resource block pair of L physical resource block pairs. The L physical resource block pairs are determined to be used to transmit a control channel into N eREGs. The number of valid REs are calculated except other overheads in each eREG of the N eREGs. Each of the eCCEs are mapped onto M eREGs according to the number of valid REs included in each eREG of the N eREGs of each physical resource block pair. The eCCE is sent in the REs included in the eREG.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/599,260, filed on May 18, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/610,879, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,674,827, which is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2012/082395, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, which claims priority to PCTPatent Application No. PCT/CN2012/079525, filed on Aug. 1, 2012. All ofthe aforementioned patent applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the communications field, and inparticular, to a control channel transmission method and apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In a radio communications system, such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE)system or a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) system, an orthogonalfrequency division multiple access (OFDMA) manner is generally used as adownlink multiple access manner. Downlink resources of the system aredivided into orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbolsfrom a perspective of time, and are divided into subcarriers from aperspective of frequency.

In a communications system, a normal downlink subframe includes twoslots, and each slot has 7 or 6 OFDM symbols. A normal downlink subframeincludes 14 OFDM symbols or 12 OFDM symbols in total. The LTE Release8/9/10 standard also defines a size of a resource block (RB). A resourceblock includes 12 subcarriers on a frequency domain, and is half asubframe duration (that is, one slot) on a time domain, that is,includes 7 or 6 OFDM symbols. In one subframe, a pair of resource blocksof two slots is called a resource block pair (RB pair). In actualsending, a resource block pair used on a physical resource is called aphysical resource block pair (PRB pair). To facilitate calculation ofthe size of resources included in each elementary resource block pair, aresource element (RE) is defined. A subcarrier on an OFDM symbol iscalled an RE, and an elementary resource block pair includes multiple REgroups: REG (Resource Element Group).

The mapping of all types of data borne in the subframe is organized bydividing physical time-frequency resources of the subframe into variousphysical channels. On the whole, various physical channels may beclassified into two types: control channels and traffic channels.Correspondingly, data borne on a control channel may be called controldata (which can be generally called control information), and data borneon a traffic channel may be called traffic data (which can be generallycalled data). An essential objective of sending a subframe is totransmit service data, and the control channel serves the purpose ofassisting in transmission of the service data.

In an LTE system, when control channel transmission is performed, acomplete physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) may be formed byaggregating one or more control channel elements (CCE). The CCE isformed by multiple REGs.

Due to introductions of technologies such as multi-user multi-inputmulti-output (MIMO) and coordinated multiple points (CoMP), a PDCCHtransmitted based on a precoding manner is introduced, that is, anenhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). The ePDCCH may bedemodulated based on a UE-specific reference signal, that is, ademodulation reference signal (DMRS). Each ePDCCH may be formed byaggregating up to L logical elements similar to the CCE, that is,enhanced control channel elements (eCCE). One eCCE is mapped onto Menhanced resource element groups (eREG) similar to the REGs.

It is assumed that an elementary resource block pair includes N eREGs, LeCCEs are mapped onto the N eREGs, and each eCCE is mapped onto M eREGs.Therefore, the method for mapping the L eCCEs onto the N eREGs in theprior art is: Fixedly, the first M eREGs of the N numbered eREGscorrespond to an eCCE, and similarly, the next M continuous eREGscorrespond to another eCCE, and finally L eCCEs are formed.

In fact, when the ePDCCH is mapped onto the eREG corresponding to eacheCCE, because the number of valid resource elements varies between theeREGs after deduction of overhead such as a CRS (common referencesignal), a PDCCH (physical downlink control channel), a PRS (positioningreference signal), a PBCH (physical broadcast channel), and a PSS(primary synchronization signal) or an SSS (secondary synchronizationsignal), the actual size of the M eREGs corresponding to one eCCE isimbalanced, which leads to imbalanced performance of demodulating eacheCCE, and increases implementation complexity of a scheduler.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control channeltransmission method and apparatus, which can ensure a balance betweenactual sizes of eCCEs mapped from control channels, further ensure aperformance balance when demodulating each eCCE, and reduceimplementation complexity of a scheduler.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission method. The method includesdetermining L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmit acontrol channel, where L is an integer greater than 0, and the controlchannel is formed by at least one eCCE. The method also includesgrouping resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)in each physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs into N eREGs, and calculating the number of valid resourceelements except other overheads in each eREG of the N eREGs in each ofthe physical resource block pairs, where N is an integer greater than 0,and the other overheads include at least one of the following: a commonreference signal (CRS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH), a positioning reference signal (PRS),a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS). The method also includes mapping each of the eCCEs onto MeREGs according to the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG of the N eREGs, where M is an integer greater than 0. Themethod further includes sending the eCCE by using the resource elementsincluded in the eREG.

In a first possible implementation manner, the mapping each of the eCCEsonto M eREGs according to the number of valid resource elements includedin each eREG of the N eREGs includes: grouping N eREGs in each of thephysical resource block pairs into a first eREG group and a second eREGgroup according to the number of valid resource elements included in theeREG, and mapping each eCCE onto M eREGs of the first eREG group and thesecond eREG group, where: in the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE, thefirst M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in the first eREG group, the numberof valid resource elements included in each eREG of the first M/2 eREGsis a different value, the last M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in thesecond eREG group, and the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG of the last M/2 eREGs is a different value.

In a second possible implementation manner, the mapping each of theeCCEs onto M eREGs according to the number of valid resource elementsincluded in each eREG of the N eREGs includes: numbering the N eREGs ineach of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, andusing S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number ofvalid resource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1,2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0;selecting one eREG respectively from each of the sets S¹, S^(t), S²,S^(t-1) . . . sequentially until M eREGs are selected in total, andmapping one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto M eREGs; and removing theselected eREGs from corresponding sets, reselecting M eREGs, and mappinganother eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the reselected M eREGs untilall the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair are mapped onto.

In a third possible implementation manner, the mapping each of the eCCEsonto M eREGs according to the number of valid resource elements includedin each eREG of the N eREGs includes: numbering the N eREGs in each ofthe physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and usingS^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of validresource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . .. , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0; andsorting the S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i) into S¹, S²,. . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascendingorder of sequence numbers of the eREGs; grouping the sorted N eREGs intop groups by putting every M/2 eREGs into one group, where the k^(th)group includes a ((k−1)*M/2+1)^(th) eREG, a ((k−1)*M/2+2)^(th) eREG, . .. , and a (k*M/2)^(th) eREG in a sorted sequence, where k=0, 1, . . . ,p; and mapping the eCCEs onto the eREGs included in the x^(th) group andthe (p−x)^(th) group, where x is any value in 0, 1, . . . , p.

In a fourth possible implementation manner, the mapping each of theeCCEs onto M eREGs according to the number of valid resource elementsincluded in each eREG of the N eREGs includes: step 21: numbering the NeREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . ,N−1, using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where thenumber of valid resource elements included in each eREG in the set isD^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integergreater than 0, and sorting the S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in theS^(i) into: S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) aresorted in ascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs; step 22:according to the set sorting in step 21, expressing S¹ . . . S^(a)sorted out of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, andexpressing S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the setS^(t) as a reverse set group; and selecting a set S^(i) in thesequential set group and the reverse set group alternately andsequentially according to a value of i, selecting one eREG from one setS^(i) respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in the setS^(i) until M eREGs are selected, and mapping one eCCE in the at leastone eCCE onto the selected M eREGs, where a=t/2 when t is an evennumber, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number; and step 23: removing theselected eREGs from corresponding sets, performing sorting again andreselecting M eREGs according to step 21 and step 22, and mappinganother eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the reselected M eREGs untilall the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair are mapped onto.

In a fifth possible implementation manner, L(L>1) physical resourceblock pairs have the same overhead, and the mapping each of the eCCEsonto M eREGs according to the number of valid resource elements includedin each eREG of the N eREGs includes: step 31: numbering the N eREGs ineach of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, usingS^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of validresource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . .. , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0, andsorting the S in ascending order of the number D^(i) of valid resourceelements in each eREG in the S^(i) into: S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), wherethe eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order of sequencenumbers of the eREGs; step 32: according to the set sorting in step 31,expressing S¹ . . . S^(a) sorted out of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as asequential set group, and expressing S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out ofthe set S^(a+1) to the set S^(t) as a reverse set group; and selecting aset S^(i) in the sequential set group and the reverse set groupalternately and sequentially according to a value of i, and selectingone eREG from one set S^(i) respectively according to a sequence numberof the eREG in the set S^(i) until a group of M eREGs are selected,where a=t/2 when t is an even number, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an oddnumber; and step 33: removing the selected eREGs from correspondingsets, and performing sorting again and selecting another group of MeREGs according to step 31 and step 32 until all the N eREGs of thephysical resource block pair are selected; and step 34: grouping the Lphysical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) physical resource blockgroups by putting every M physical resource block pairs into one group,mapping the selected M eREGs in each group onto M physical resourceblock pairs in each of the floor(L/M) physical resource block groupsrespectively, and mapping each eCCE in the L physical resource blockpairs onto the M eREGs respectively, where floor refers to roundingdown.

In the fifth possible implementation manner, L(L>1) physical resourceblock pairs have different overheads, the overheads of some physicalresource block pairs of the L physical resource block pairs include aPBCH and a PSS/SSS, and the overheads of other physical resource blockpairs do not include the PBCH or the PSS/SSS, and the mapping each ofthe eCCEs onto M eREGs according to the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG of the N eREGs includes: mapping,according to steps 31 to 35, one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto PeREGs in the physical resource block pairs that include the PBCH and thePSS/SSS and onto (M-P) eREGs in the physical resource block pairs thatdo not include the PBCH or the PSS/SSS until all the eREGs in the Lphysical resource block pairs are mapped onto.

In a sixth possible implementation manner, the eREGs corresponding tothe resource elements of the physical resource block pairs have sequencenumbers, and a specific implementation manner of mapping each of theeCCEs onto M eREGs is: calculating the sequence numbers, in thecorresponding physical resource block pairs, of the M eREGs mapped fromeach eCCE; and mapping each of the eCCEs onto M eREGs corresponding to MeREG sequence numbers corresponding to the sequence numbers according tothe sequence numbers.

The calculating the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physicalresource block pairs, of the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE includes:when L=1, calculating a sequence number of the j^(th) eREG correspondingto the i^(th) eCCE by using Loc_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, so as tocalculate the sequence numbers, in the L=1 physical resource block pair,of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE; or when L>1, first,calculating the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=(Loc_eCCE_t_j+p*K) mod N, and thencalculating the sequence number of a corresponding physical resourceblock pair of the L physical resource block pairs that include thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, where Loc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K) mod N,t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . , or L−1; or when L>1, first,calculating the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=((t+j*K) mod N+p*K)mod N, and thencalculating the sequence number of a corresponding physical resourceblock pair of the L physical resource block pairs that include thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, where t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, .. . , or L−1; or when L>1, first, calculating the sequence number of thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingDis_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then calculating the sequence number ofa corresponding physical resource block pair of the L physical resourceblock pairs that include the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th)eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate thesequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resource block pair, ofthe M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where N is the number of eREGsof each physical resource block pair, K is the number of eCCEs of eachphysical resource block pair, M is the number of eREGs corresponding toeach eCCE, i is the sequence numbers of the eCCEs that form the controlchannel, i=0, 1, . . . , or L*K−1, and j is the sequence numbers of theeREGs included in the physical resource block pair, j=0, 1, . . . , orM−1. When L=1, the sequence numbers of the eCCEs corresponding to aneREG in each physical resource block pair are calculated according tothe following formula: the sequence number of the eCCE corresponding tothe j^(th) eREG of each physical resource block pair is Loc_eCCE_i=j modK, where K is the number of eCCEs borne in each physical resource blockpair, and j=0, 1, . . . , or K−1.

When the number L of configured physical resource block pairs is greaterthan the number M of eREGs mapped from each eCCE, it is only needed togroup the L configured physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) or(floor(L/M)+1) groups first by putting every M physical resource blockpairs into one group, where the number of physical resource block pairsincluded in each group is M or L-floor(L/M). In each group (at thistime, the number of physical resource block pairs in each group is L1=Mor L−floor(L/M)), the foregoing formula is applied respectively toobtain the eCCE-to-eREG mapping on all the L physical resource blockpairs. A sequence number w_(i) of a PRB pair in the i^(th) group, whichis obtained according to the foregoing formula, is operated according toa formula w=w_(i)+i*M to obtain a sequence number w of the PRB pair inall the L physical resource block pairs, where i=0, 1, . . . ,floor(L/M)−1 or floor(L/M).

For example, when L=16 and M=8, the L physical resource block pairs aregrouped into two groups first by putting every 8 physical resource blockpairs into one group. For example, the first 8 physical resource blockpairs form a first group, and the last 8 physical resource block pairsform a second group. In the first group, L=8 and M=8 are substitutedinto the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGs mapped from all eCCEs inthe first 8 physical resource block pairs and obtain sequence numbers w₁of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₁ is substituted into aformula w_(i)+0*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w of the PRB pairs inthe L physical resource block pairs. Similarly, in the second group, L=8and M=8 are substituted into the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGsmapped from all eCCEs in the last 8 physical resource block pairs andobtain sequence numbers w₂ of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; andw₂ is substituted into a formula w₂+1*8 to obtain the sequence numbers wof the PRB pairs in the L physical resource block pairs.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission method. The method includesdetermining L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmit acontrol channel, and grouping resource elements except a demodulationreference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is aninteger greater than 0. The method also includes obtaining, according toan aggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs thatform the control channel and sequence numbers of eREGs mapped from eacheCCE. The method also includes when L is greater than 1, numbering theeREGs differently in different physical resource block pairs of the Lphysical resource block pairs; or, when L is equal to 1, numbering theeREGs of the physical resource block pair differently according todifferent transmitting time points of the control channel. The methodfurther includes sending the eCCE by using the resource elementsincluded in the eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers of the eREGsmapped from the eCCE.

In a first possible implementation manner, the numbering the eREGsdifferently in different physical resource block pairs of the L physicalresource block pairs includes: numbering the eREGs in a first physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs; andperforming a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGs in thefirst physical resource block pair to obtain sequence numbers of theeREGs in a second physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs.

The numbering the eREGs differently in different physical resource blockpairs of the L physical resource block pairs includes: numbering theeREGs in a first physical resource block pair of the L physical resourceblock pairs; and performing L−1 cyclic shifts for the sequence numbersof the eREGs in the first physical resource block pair to obtainsequence numbers of the eREGs in other L−1 physical resource block pairsexcept the first physical resource block pair of the L physical resourceblock pairs respectively.

According to another aspect, a control channel transmission method isprovided. The method includes determining L physical resource blockpairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and grouping resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs into at leastone eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0. The method also includesobtaining, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,eCCEs that form the control channel and sequence numbers of eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE. The method also includes mapping the eREGs onto theresource elements in the physical resource block pairs corresponding todifferent subframes or different slots. The method further includessending the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREGscorresponding to the sequence numbers of eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the physicalresource block pairs corresponding to different subframes or differentslots includes: numbering the eREGs corresponding to the resourceelements in a physical resource block corresponding to a first subframeor a first slot; performing a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in the physicalresource block corresponding to the first subframe or the first slot toobtain sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resourceelements in a physical resource block corresponding to a second subframeor a second slot; and mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements inthe corresponding physical resource block according to the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second subframe or thesecond slot.

A rule for mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the physicalresource block pairs corresponding to different subframes or differentslots includes: in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of aneREG corresponding to a first RE in a physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot slot being: K f=((K+p)modN), where K^(f) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to thefirst RE in the physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th)subframe or slot, K is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to anRE corresponding to a first subframe or slot and located in the samelocation as the first RE on a time domain and a frequency domain, and pis a step length of a cyclic shift.

The performing a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the first subframe or the first slot to obtain sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in aphysical resource block corresponding to a second subframe or a secondslot includes: classifying resource elements in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the first slot or the first subframe intoresource elements used to transmit a DMRS and resource elements not usedto transmit the DMRS, performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number ofan eREG corresponding to a resource element used to transmit the DMRS inthe physical resource block corresponding to the first slot or the firstsubframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to aresource element used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the second slot or the second subframe, andperforming a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREG correspondingto a resource element not used to transmit the DMRS in the physicalresource block corresponding to the first slot or the first subframe toobtain a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource elementnot used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the second slot or the second subframe.

A mapping rule for mapping each eCCE onto the eREGs includes: in thef^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG in aphysical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being: K^(f) (n)=K ((n+p)mod N), where K^(f) (n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to a first eCCE in thephysical resource block pair in the f^(th) subframe or slot, K(n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to the first eCCE inthe physical resource block pair in a first subframe or a first slotslot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is a step length of the cyclicshift.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission method. The method includesdetermining L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmit acontrol channel, and grouping resource elements except a demodulationreference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is aninteger greater than 0. The method also includes obtaining, according toan aggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs thatform the control channel and eREGs mapped from each eCCE, where a rulefor determining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is related to a cell IDor a user equipment UE ID. The method further includes sending the eCCEby using the resource elements included in the eREG.

That a rule for determining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is relatedto a cell ID or a user equipment UE ID includes: that the rule fordetermining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is cell-specific or userequipment-specific.

The cell includes an actual physical cell, or a virtual cell or carrierconfigured in a system.

The determining rule is a cell-specific or user equipment-specificfunction, and the function satisfies the following formula:

${{R(i)} = {{\left( {{\frac{n_{s}}{2} \star 2^{9}} + N_{ID}} \right)\mspace{11mu} {mod}\mspace{14mu} N} + {R_{0}(i)}}},$

where n_(s) is a slot number, N is the number of eREGs in each physicalresource block pair, R⁰(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREGincluded in a reference eCEE in a set reference physical resource blockpair, R(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from acorresponding eCCE in a physical resource block pair corresponding tothe cell or the UE, and N_(ID) is a parameter corresponding to the cellor the UE.

The determining rule is: eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N). eREG_(t)(i) isthe sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from a first eCCEcorresponding to the first cell or the first UE, eREG(i) is the sequencenumber of the i^(th) eREG mapped from a second eCCE of the first one ofthe cell or user equipment corresponding to a second cell or a secondUE, X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or acarrier, i=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and N is the number of eREGs includedin each physical resource block pair.

According to another aspect, a control channel transmission method isprovided. The method includes determining L physical resource blockpairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and grouping resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs into at leastone eREG, where L is an integer greater than 1. The method also includesobtaining, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,eCCEs that form the control channel, and mapping the eCCEs onto theeREG, where REs included in the eREG mapped from the eCCEs are locatedin the same locations on a time domain and a frequency domain in thecorresponding physical resource block pairs; and mapping the eREG onto acorresponding resource element in the L physical resource block pairs,where a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a secondphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs isobtained by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs; and sending the eCCE by using theresource elements included in the eREG mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of asecond physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs includes: numbering the L physicalresource block pairs, and performing a cyclic shift at a step length ofp for the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is: K^(m)=(K₀+m*p)mod N), whereK^(m) represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to thefirst RE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, and K⁰ representsthe sequence number of the eREG corresponding to an RE located in thesame location as the first RE on the time domain and the frequencydomain in the first physical resource block pair.

A mapping rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs includes: K^(m)(n)=K₀((n+m*p)mod N), where K^(m) (n) is the sequence number of then^(th) eREG corresponding to a first eCCE in the m^(th) physicalresource block pair, K₀(n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREGcorresponding to the first eCCE in the first physical resource blockpair, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is the step length of the cyclicshift.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission method. The method includesdetermining L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmit acontrol channel, and grouping resource elements except a demodulationreference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is aninteger greater than 1. The method also includes obtaining, according toan aggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel, and mapping the eCCEs onto the eREG, where REs included in theeREG mapped from the eCCEs are located in the same locations on a timedomain and a frequency domain in the corresponding physical resourceblock pairs. The method also includes mapping the eREG onto acorresponding resource element in the L physical resource block pairs,where a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a secondphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs isobtained by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs. The method further includes sending theeCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG mapped from theeCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of asecond physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs includes: numbering the L physicalresource block pairs, and performing a cyclic shift at a step length ofp for the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is: K=(K₀+m*p)mod N), where K^(m)represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the first REin the m^(th) physical resource block pair, and K⁰ represents thesequence number of the eREG corresponding to an RE located in the samelocation as the first RE on the time domain and the frequency domain inthe first physical resource block pair.

A mapping rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs includes: K^(m)(n)=K₀((n+m*p)mod N), where K^(m) (n) is the sequence number of then^(th) eREG corresponding to a first eCCE in the m^(th) physicalresource block pair, K₀(n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREGcorresponding to the first eCCE in the first physical resource blockpair, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is the step length of the cyclicshift.

According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission method. The method includesdetermining L physical resource block pairs of a first transmission nodethat is used to transmit a control channel, and grouping resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs into at leastone eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0. The method also includesobtaining, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,eCCEs that form the control channel, mapping the eCCEs onto the eREG,and mapping the eREG onto corresponding resource elements in the Lphysical resource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node is obtainedby performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair inphysical resource block pairs of a second transmission node. The methodfurther includes sending the eCCE by using the resource elementsincluded in the eREG mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of afirst physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs of the first transmission node by performing a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair in physical resource block pairs of a secondtransmission node includes: determining the sequence number of the eREGcorresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair of thephysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node by usingthe following formula: K^(t)=(K+X) mod N where, K^(t) is the sequencenumber of the eREG corresponding to the RE in the first physicalresource block pair of the first transmission node, K is the sequencenumber of the eREG corresponding to the RE in the first physicalresource block pair of the second transmission node, X is a parameterrelated to a virtual cell or a physical cell or a carrier, for example,X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is the same as a value of X in aDMRS scrambling sequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH, and N is thenumber of eREGs included in each physical resource block pair.

A rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs is determined by thefollowing rule: determining, by using the following formula, a sequencenumber of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of the control channeltransmitted by the first transmission node: K^(t) (i)=K(i+X) mod N,where, K^(t) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from theeCCE of the control channel transmitted by the first transmission node,K is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of thecontrol channel transmitted by the second transmission node, X is aparameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or a carrier, forexample, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is the same as a valueof X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH, Nis the number of eREGs in each physical resource block pair, and i=0, 1,. . . , or N−1.

According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a determining unit, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, where L is aninteger greater than 0, and the control channel is formed by at leastone eCCE. The apparatus also includes a grouping and calculating unit,configured to group resource elements except a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs determined by the determining unit into N eREGs,and calculate the number of valid resource elements except otheroverheads in each eREG of the N eREGs in each of the physical resourceblock pairs, where N is an integer greater than 0, and the otheroverheads include at least one of the following: a common referencesignal (CRS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH), a positioning reference signal (PRS), aprimary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS). The apparatus also includes a mapping unit, configured tomap each of the eCCEs onto M eREGs according to the number of validresource elements included in each eREG of the N eREGs of each physicalresource block pair, where the number of valid resource elements iscalculated by the grouping and calculating unit, and M is an integergreater than 0. The apparatus further includes a sending unit,configured to send the eCCE by using the resource elements included inthe eREG mapped by the mapping unit.

In a first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, themapping unit is specifically configured to group N eREGs in each of thephysical resource block pairs into a first eREG group and a second eREGgroup according to the number of valid resource elements included in theeREG, and map each eCCE onto M eREGs of the first eREG group and thesecond eREG group, where: in the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE, thefirst M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in the first eREG group, the numberof valid resource elements included in each eREG of the first M/2 eREGsis a different value, the last M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in thesecond eREG group, and the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG of the last M/2 eREGs is a different value.

In a second possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, themapping unit is specifically configured to perform the following steps:numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0,1, 2, . . . , N−1, and using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the NeREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGin the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t isan integer greater than 0; selecting one eREG respectively from each ofthe sets S¹, S^(t), S², S^(t-1) . . . sequentially until M eREGs areselected in total, and mapping one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto MeREGs; and removing the selected eREGs from corresponding sets,reselecting M eREGs, and mapping another eCCE in the at least one eCCEonto the reselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physicalresource block pair are mapped onto.

In a third possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, themapping unit is specifically configured to number the N eREGs in each ofthe physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and use S^(i)to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of validresource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . .. , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0; sortthe S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i) into S¹, S², . . . ,S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order ofsequence numbers of the eREGs; group the sorted N eREGs into p groups byputting every M/2 eREGs into one group, where the k^(th) group includesa ((k−1)*M/2+1)^(th) eREG, a ((k−1)*M/2+2)^(th) eREG, . . . , and a(k*M/2)^(th) eREG in a sorted sequence, where k=0, 1, . . . , p; and mapthe eCCEs onto the eREGs included in the x^(th) group and the (p−x)^(th)group, where x is any value in 0, 1, . . . , p.

In a fourth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, themapping unit includes a first sorting subunit, a first mapping subunit,and a cyclic selecting unit; the first sorting subunit is configured toperform step 21, where step 21 is: numbering the N eREGs in each of thephysical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, using S^(i) todenote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t),D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0, and sorting theS^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i) into: S¹, S², . . . ,S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order ofsequence numbers of the eREGs; the first mapping subunit is configuredto perform step 22, where step 22 is: according to the sorting of theset S^(i) in the first sorting subunit, expressing S¹ . . . S^(a) sortedout of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, and expressingS^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the set S^(t) as areverse set group; and selecting a set S^(i) in the sequential set groupand the reverse set group alternately and sequentially according to avalue of i, selecting one eREG from one set S^(i) respectively accordingto a sequence number of the eREG in the set S^(i) until M eREGs areselected, and mapping one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto theselected M eREGs, where a=t/2 when t is an even number, and a=(t+1)/2when t is an odd number; the cyclic selecting unit is further configuredto perform step 23, where step 23 is: removing the selected eREGs from asorted sequence; the first sorting subunit performs sorting againaccording to step 21; and the first mapping subunit reselects M eREGsaccording to step 22, and maps another eCCE in the at least one eCCEonto the reselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physicalresource block pair are mapped onto.

In a fifth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, themapping unit specifically includes a second sorting subunit, a secondmapping subunit, a second cyclic selecting unit, a shift combiningsubunit, and a correspond-mapping subunit; the second sorting subunit isconfigured to number the N eREGs in each of the physical resource blockpairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, use S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in theN eREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included in eacheREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and tis an integer greater than 0, and sort the S in ascending order of thenumber D^(i) of valid resource elements in each eREG in the S^(i) into:S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted inascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs; the second selectingsubunit is configured to: according to the sorting of the set S^(i) inthe second sorting subunit, express S¹ . . . S^(a) sorted out of thesets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, and express S^(t) . . .S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the set S^(t) as a reverse setgroup; and select a set S^(i) in the sequential set group and thereverse set group alternately and sequentially according to a value ofi, and select one eREG from one set S^(i) respectively according to asequence number of the eREG in the set S^(i) until a group of M eREGsare selected, where a=t/2 when t is an even number, and a=(t+1)/2 when tis an odd number; the second cyclic selecting unit is configured toperform step 33, where step 33 is: removing, from a sorted sequence, theeREGs selected by the second selecting subunit; the second sortingsubunit performs sorting again according to step 31; the secondselecting subunit reselects another group of M eREGs according to step32 until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair areselected; and the correspond-mapping subunit is configured to performstep 34, where step 34 is: grouping the L physical resource block pairsinto floor(L/M) physical resource block groups by putting every Mphysical resource block pairs into one group, mapping the selected MeREGs in each group onto M physical resource block pairs in each of thefloor(L/M) physical resource block groups respectively, and mapping eacheCCE in the L physical resource block pairs onto the M eREGsrespectively, where floor refers to rounding down.

In a sixth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the L(L>1) physical resource block pairs have different overheads, theoverheads of some physical resource block pairs of the L physicalresource block pairs include a PBCH and a PSS/SSS, and the overheads ofother physical resource block pairs do not include the PBCH or thePSS/SSS; and the mapping unit is specifically configured to map,according to steps 31 to 35, one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto PeREGs in the physical resource block pairs that include the PBCH and thePSS/SSS and onto (M-P) eREGs in the physical resource block pairs thatdo not include the PBCH or the PSS/SSS until all the eREGs in the Lphysical resource block pairs are mapped onto.

In a sixth possible implementation manner, the eREGs corresponding tothe resource elements of the physical resource block pairs have sequencenumbers; and the mapping unit includes a calculating subunit and amapping subunit, where the calculating subunit is configured tocalculate the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resourceblock pairs, of the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE; and the mappingsubunit is configured to map each of the eCCEs onto M eREGscorresponding to M eREG sequence numbers corresponding to the sequencenumbers according to the sequence numbers.

The calculating subunit is configured to: when L=1, calculate a sequencenumber of the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingLoc_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then calculate the sequence numbers, inthe L=1 physical resource block pair, of the M eREGs corresponding toeach eCCE; or when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingDis_eCCE_i_j=(Loc_eCCE_t+p*K) mod N, and then calculate the sequencenumber of a corresponding physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculatethe sequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resource block pair,of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where Loc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K)mod N, t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . , or L−; or when L>1,first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding tothe i^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=((t+j*K) mod N+p*K)mod N, and thencalculate the sequence number of a corresponding physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L,so as to calculate the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physicalresource block pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, wheret=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . , or L−1; or when L>1, first,calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then calculate thesequence number of a corresponding physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREG correspondingto the i^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as tocalculate the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resourceblock pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where N is thenumber of eREGs of each physical resource block pair, K is the number ofeCCEs of each physical resource block pair, M is the number of eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, i is the sequence numbers of the eCCEs thatform the control channel, i=0, 1, . . . , or L*K−1, and j is thesequence numbers of the eREGs included in the physical resource blockpair, j=0, 1, . . . , or M−1.

The calculating subunit is configured to: calculate the sequence numberof the eCCE corresponding to the j^(th) eREG of each physical resourceblock pair by using Loc_eCCE_i=j mod K, where K is the number of eCCEsborne in each physical resource block pair, and j=0, 1, . . . , or K−1.

When the number L of configured physical resource block pairs is greaterthan the number M of eREGs mapped from each eCCE, it is only needed togroup the L configured physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) or(floor(L/M)+1) groups first by putting every M physical resource blockpairs into one group, where the number of physical resource block pairsincluded in each group is M or L−floor(L/M). In each group (at thistime, the number of physical resource block pairs in each group is L1=Mor L−floor(L/M)), the foregoing formula is applied respectively toobtain the eCCE-to-eREG mapping on all the L physical resource blockpairs. A sequence number w_(i) of a PRB pair in the i^(th) group, whichis obtained according to the foregoing formula, is operated according toa formula w=w_(i)+i*M to obtain a sequence number w of the PRB pair inall the L physical resource block pairs, where i=0, 1, . . . ,floor(L/M)−1 or floor(L/M).

For example, when L=16 and M=8, the L physical resource block pairs aregrouped into two groups first by putting every 8 physical resource blockpairs into one group. For example, the first 8 physical resource blockpairs form a first group, and the last 8 physical resource block pairsform a second group. In the first group, L=8 and M=8 are substitutedinto the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGs mapped from all eCCEs inthe first 8 physical resource block pairs and obtain sequence numbers w₁of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₁ is substituted into aformula w₁+0*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w of the PRB pairs in theL physical resource block pairs. Similarly, in the second group, L=8 andM=8 are substituted into the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGsmapped from all eCCEs in the last 8 physical resource block pairs andobtain sequence numbers w₂ of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; andw₂ is substituted into a formula w₂+1*8 to obtain the sequence numbers wof the PRB pairs in the L physical resource block pairs.

According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a determining and grouping unit, configured to determine Lphysical resource block pairs that are used to transmit a controlchannel, and group resource elements except a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is an integergreater than 0. The apparatus also includes an obtaining unit,configured to obtain, according to an aggregation level of the controlchannel, the number of eCCEs that form the control channel and sequencenumbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE. The apparatus also includes anumbering unit, configured to: when L is greater than 1, number theeREGs differently in different physical resource block pairs of the Lphysical resource block pairs; or, when L is equal to 1, number theeREGs of the physical resource block pair differently according todifferent transmitting time points of the control channel. The apparatusfurther includes a mapping sending unit, configured to send the eCCE byusing the resource elements included in the eREGs corresponding to thesequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The numbering unit is configured to: number the eREGs in a firstphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs; andperform a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGs in thefirst physical resource block pair to obtain sequence numbers of theeREGs in a second physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs.

According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionfurther provides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a determining and grouping unit, configured to determine Lphysical resource block pairs that are used to transmit a controlchannel, and group resource elements except a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is an integergreater than 0. The apparatus also includes an obtaining unit,configured to obtain, according to an aggregation level of the controlchannel, the number of eCCEs that form the control channel and eREGsmapped from each eCCE, where a rule for determining the eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE is related to a cell ID or a user equipment UE ID. Theapparatus further includes a sending unit, configured to send the eCCEby using the resource elements included in the eREG.

The cell may be an actual physical cell, or a virtual cell or carrierconfigured in a system.

That a rule for determining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is relatedto a cell ID or a user equipment UE ID includes: that the rule fordetermining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is cell-specific or userequipment-specific.

The determining rule is a cell-specific or user equipment-specificfunction, and the function satisfies the following formula:

${{R(i)} = {{\left( {{\frac{n_{s}}{2} \star 2^{9}} + N_{ID}} \right)\mspace{11mu} {mod}\mspace{14mu} N} + {R_{0}(i)}}},$

where n_(s) is a slot number, N is the number of eREGs in each physicalresource block pair, R⁰(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREGincluded in a reference eCEE in a set reference physical resource blockpair, R(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from acorresponding eCCE in a physical resource block pair corresponding tothe cell or the UE, and N_(ID) is a parameter corresponding to the cellor the UE.

The determining rule is:

eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N)

where, eREG_(t)(i) is the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped froma first eCCE corresponding to the first cell or the first UE, eREG(i) isthe sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from a second eCCE of thefirst one of the cell or user equipment corresponding to a second cellor a second UE, X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physicalcell or a carrier, i=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and N is the number of eREGsincluded in each physical resource block pair.

According to a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a third determining unit, configured to determine L physicalresource block pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, andgroup resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ineach physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsinto at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 1. Theapparatus also includes a mapping unit, configured to obtain, accordingto an aggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form thecontrol channel, and map the eCCEs onto the eREG, where REs included inthe eREG mapped from the eCCEs are located in the same locations on atime domain and a frequency domain in the corresponding physicalresource block pairs, and map the eREG onto a corresponding resourceelement in the L physical resource block pairs, where a sequence numberof an eREG corresponding to an RE of a second physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs is obtained by performing acyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE ofa first physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs. The apparatus further includes a sending unit, configured to sendthe eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG mapped fromthe eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of asecond physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs includes: numbering the L physicalresource block pairs, and performing a cyclic shift at a step length ofp for the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is:

K ^(m)=(K ₀ +m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) represents the sequence number of the eREGcorresponding to the first RE in the m^(th) physical resource blockpair, and K⁰ represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding toan RE located in the same location as the first RE on the time domainand the frequency domain in the first physical resource block pair.

According to another aspect, a control channel transmission apparatus isprovided. The apparatus includes a second determining and grouping unit,configured to determine L physical resource block pairs that are used totransmit a control channel, and group resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs into at least one eREG,where L is an integer greater than 0. The apparatus also includes asecond obtaining unit, configured to obtain, according to an aggregationlevel of the control channel, eCCEs that form the control channel andsequence numbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE. The apparatus alsoincludes a second mapping unit, configured to map the eREGs onto theresource elements in the physical resource block pairs corresponding todifferent subframes or different slots. The apparatus further includes asecond sending unit, configured to send the eCCE by using the resourceelements included in the eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The second mapping unit is configured to: number the eREGs correspondingto the resource elements in a physical resource block corresponding to afirst subframe or a first slot; perform a cyclic shift for the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the first subframe or the firstslot to obtain sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to theresource elements in a physical resource block corresponding to a secondsubframe or a second slot; and map the eREGs onto the resource elementsin the corresponding physical resource block according to the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second subframe or thesecond slot.

A rule for mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the physicalresource block pairs corresponding to different subframes or differentslots includes: in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of aneREG corresponding to a first RE in a physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot slot being: K^(f)=((K+p)modN), where K^(f) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to thefirst RE in the physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th)subframe or slot, K is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to anRE corresponding to a first subframe or slot and located in the samelocation as the first RE on a time domain and a frequency domain, and pis a step length of a cyclic shift.

The mapping unit is configured to: classify resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the first slot or the firstsubframe into resource elements used to transmit a DMRS and resourceelements not used to transmit the DMRS, perform a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource element used totransmit the DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to thefirst slot or the first subframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a resource element used to transmit the DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe, and perform a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a resource element not used to transmit the DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the first slot or the firstsubframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to aresource element not used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the second slot or the second subframe; and mapthe eREGs onto the resource elements in the corresponding physicalresource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements used to transmit a DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe, or map the eREGs onto the resource elements in thecorresponding physical resource block according to the sequence numbersof the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements not used to transmitthe DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to the second slotor the second subframe.

A mapping rule for mapping each eCCE onto the eREGs includes: in thef^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG in aphysical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being: K^(f) (n)=K ((n+p)mod N), where K^(f) (n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to a first eCCE in thephysical resource block pair in the f^(th) subframe or slot, K(n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to the first eCCE inthe physical resource block pair in a first subframe or a first slotslot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is a step length of the cyclicshift.

According to a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a determining unit, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0. The apparatusalso includes an obtaining and mapping unit, configured to obtain,according to an aggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs thatform the control channel, map the eCCEs onto the eREG, and map the eREGonto corresponding resource elements in the L physical resource blockpairs, where a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of afirst physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs of the first transmission node is obtained by performing a cyclicshift for a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a firstphysical resource block pair in physical resource block pairs of asecond transmission node. The apparatus further includes a sending unit,configured to send the eCCE by using the resource elements included inthe eREG mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of afirst physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs of the first transmission node by performing a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair in physical resource block pairs of a secondtransmission node includes: determining the sequence number of the eREGcorresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair of thephysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node by usingthe following formula:

K ^(t)=(K+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the REin the first physical resource block pair of the first transmissionnode, K is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE inthe first physical resource block pair of the second transmission node,X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or acarrier, for example, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is thesame as a value of X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of anePDCCH or a PDSCH, and N is the number of eREGs included in eachphysical resource block pair.

A rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs is determined by thefollowing rule: determining, by using the following formula, a sequencenumber of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of the control channeltransmitted by the first transmission node:

K ^(t)(i)=K(i+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from theeCCE of the control channel transmitted by the first transmission node,K is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of thecontrol channel transmitted by the second transmission node, X is aparameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or a carrier, forexample, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is the same as a valueof X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH, Nis the number of eREGs in each physical resource block pair, and i=0, 1,. . . , or N−1.

According to an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a first processor, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, where L is aninteger greater than 0, and the control channel is formed by at leastone eCCE, where the first processor is further configured to groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoN eREGs, and calculate the number of valid resource elements exceptother overheads in each eREG of the N eREGs in each of the physicalresource block pairs, where N is an integer greater than 0, and theother overheads include at least one of the following: a commonreference signal (CRS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH), a positioning reference signal (PRS),a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS). The first processor is further configured to map each ofthe eCCEs onto M eREGs according to the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG of the N eREGs of each physical resourceblock pair, where M is an integer greater than 0. The transmitter isfurther configured to send the eCCE by using the resource elementsincluded in the eREG.

In a first possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, thefirst processor is specifically configured to group N eREGs in each ofthe physical resource block pairs into a first eREG group and a secondeREG group according to the number of valid resource elements includedin the eREG, and map each eCCE onto M eREGs of the first eREG group andthe second eREG group, where: in the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE, thefirst M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in the first eREG group, the numberof valid resource elements included in each eREG of the first M/2 eREGsis a different value, the last M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in thesecond eREG group, and the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG of the last M/2 eREGs is a different value.

In a second possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, thefirst processor is specifically configured to perform the followingsteps: numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource blockpairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGsin the N eREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t),and t is an integer greater than 0; selecting one eREG respectively fromeach of the sets S¹, S^(t), S², S^(t-1) . . . sequentially until M eREGsare selected in total, and mapping one eCCE in the at least one eCCEonto M eREGs; and removing the selected eREGs from corresponding sets,reselecting M eREGs, and mapping another eCCE in the at least one eCCEonto the reselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physicalresource block pair are mapped onto.

With reference to the eleventh aspect and the second possibleimplementation manner of the eleventh aspect, in a third possibleimplementation manner, the first processor is specifically configured tonumber the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1,2, . . . , N−1, and use S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs,where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREG in theset is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is aninteger greater than 0; sort the S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) inthe S^(i) into S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i)are sorted in ascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs; groupthe sorted N eREGs into p groups by putting every M/2 eREGs into onegroup, where the k^(th) group includes a ((k−1)*M/2+1)^(th) eREG, a((k−1)*M/2+2)^(th) eREG, . . . , and a (k*M/2)^(th) eREG in a sortedsequence, where k=0, 1, . . . , p; and map the eCCEs onto the eREGsincluded in the x^(th) group and the (p−x)^(th) group, where x is anyvalue in 0, 1, . . . , p.

In a fourth possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, thefirst processor is configured to perform step 21, where step 21 is:numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0,1, 2, . . . , N−1, using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs,where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREG in theset is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is aninteger greater than 0, and sorting the S^(i) in ascending order ofD^(i) in the S^(i) into: S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in theset S^(i) are sorted in ascending order of sequence numbers of theeREGs; the first processor is further configured to perform step 22,where step 22 is: according to the set sorting in step 21, expressing S¹. . . S^(a) sorted out of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential setgroup, and expressing S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1)to the set S^(t) as a reverse set group; and selecting a set S^(i) inthe sequential set group and the reverse set group alternately andsequentially according to a value of i, selecting one eREG from one setS^(i) respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in the setS^(i) until M eREGs are selected, and mapping one eCCE in the at leastone eCCE onto the selected M eREGs, where a=t/2 when t is an evennumber, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number; the first processor isfurther configured to perform step 23, where step 23 is: removing theselected eREGs from corresponding sets; the first processor performssorting again according to step 21; and the first processor selects MeREGs according to step 22, and maps another eCCE in the at least oneeCCE onto the reselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physicalresource block pair are mapped onto.

In a fifth possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, thefirst processor is further configured to perform step 31, where step 31is: numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairsas 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the NeREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGin the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t isan integer greater than 0, and sorting the S^(i) in ascending order ofthe number D^(i) of valid resource elements included in each eREG in theS^(i) into: S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) aresorted in ascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs; the firstprocessor is further configured to perform step 32, where step 32 is:according to the set sorting in step 31, expressing S¹ . . . S^(a)sorted out of the sets S^(i) to S^(a) as a sequential set group, andexpressing S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the setS^(t) as a reverse set group; and selecting a set S^(i) in thesequential set group and the reverse set group alternately andsequentially according to a value of i, and selecting one eREG from oneset S^(i) respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in theset S^(i) until a group of M eREGs are selected, where a=t/2 when t isan even number, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number; the firstprocessor is further configured to perform step 33: removing theselected eREGs from corresponding sets; the first processor performssorting again according to step 31; the first processor reselectsanother group of M eREGs according to step 32 until all the N eREGs ofthe physical resource block pair are selected; and the first processoris further configured to perform step 34: grouping the L physicalresource block pairs into floor(L/M) physical resource block groups byputting every M physical resource block pairs into one group, mappingthe selected M eREGs in each group onto M physical resource block pairsin each of the floor(L/M) physical resource block groups respectively,and mapping each eCCE in the L physical resource block pairs onto the MeREGs respectively, where floor refers to rounding down.

In a sixth possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, thefirst processor maps, according to steps 31 to 35, one eCCE in the atleast one eCCE onto P eREGs in the physical resource block pairs thatinclude the PBCH and the PSS/SSS and onto (M-P) eREGs in the physicalresource block pairs that do not include the PBCH or the PSS/SSS untilall the eREGs in the L physical resource block pairs are mapped onto.

In a seventh possible implementation manner, the first processor isconfigured to: when L=1, calculate a sequence number of the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using Loc_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N,and then calculate the sequence numbers, in the L=1 physical resourceblock pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE; or when L>1,first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding tothe i^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=(Loc_eCCE_t_j+p*K) mod N, and thencalculate the sequence number of a corresponding physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L,so as to calculate the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physicalresource block pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, whereLoc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K) mod N, t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . ,or L−1; or when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th)eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=((t+j*K) modN+p*K)mod N, and then calculate the sequence number of a correspondingphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs thatinclude the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, where t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, .. . , or L−1; or when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingDis_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then calculate the sequence number of acorresponding physical resource block pair of the L physical resourceblock pairs that include the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th)eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate thesequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resource block pair, ofthe M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where N is the number of eREGsof each physical resource block pair, K is the number of eCCEs of eachphysical resource block pair, M is the number of eREGs corresponding toeach eCCE, i is the sequence numbers of the eCCEs that form the controlchannel, i=0, 1, . . . , or L*K−1, and j is the sequence numbers of theeREGs included in the physical resource block pair, j=0, 1, . . . , orM−1.

When the number L of configured physical resource block pairs is greaterthan the number M of eREGs mapped from each eCCE, it is only needed togroup the L configured physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) or(floor(L/M)+1) groups first by putting every M physical resource blockpairs into one group, where the number of physical resource block pairsincluded in each group is M or L−floor(L/M). In each group (at thistime, the number of physical resource block pairs in each group is L1=Mor L−floor(L/M)), the foregoing formula is applied respectively toobtain the eCCE-to-eREG mapping on all the L physical resource blockpairs. A sequence number w_(i) of a PRB pair in the i^(th) group, whichis obtained according to the foregoing formula, is operated according toa formula w=w_(i)+i*M to obtain a sequence number w of the PRB pair inall the L physical resource block pairs, where i=0, 1, . . . ,floor(L/M)−1 or floor(L/M).

For example, when L=16 and M=8, the L physical resource block pairs aregrouped into two groups first by putting every 8 physical resource blockpairs into one group. For example, the first 8 physical resource blockpairs form a first group, and the last 8 physical resource block pairsform a second group. In the first group, L=8 and M=8 are substitutedinto the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGs mapped from all eCCEs inthe first 8 physical resource block pairs and obtain sequence numbers w₁of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₁ is substituted into aformula w_(i)+0*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w of the PRB pairs inthe L physical resource block pairs. Similarly, in the second group, L=8and M=8 are substituted into the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGsmapped from all eCCEs in the last 8 physical resource block pairs andobtain sequence numbers w₂ corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₂is substituted into a formula w₂+1*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w ofthe PRB pairs in the L physical resource block pairs.

According to a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a second processor, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0, where thesecond processor is further configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs that formthe control channel and sequence numbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE.The second processor is further configured to: when L is greater than 1,number the eREGs differently in different physical resource block pairsof the L physical resource block pairs; or, when L is equal to 1, numberthe eREGs of the physical resource block pair differently according todifferent transmitting time points of the control channel. Thetransmitter is further configured to send the eCCE by using the resourceelements included in the eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

According to a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a third processor, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0, where the thirdprocessor is further configured to obtain, according to an aggregationlevel of the control channel, the number of eCCEs that form the controlchannel and eREGs mapped from each eCCE, where a rule for determiningthe eREGs mapped from each eCCE is related to a cell ID or a userequipment UE ID. The apparatus further includes a fifth transmitterfurther configured to send the eCCE by using the resource elementsincluded in the eREG.

According to a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a fourth processor, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 1, where thefourth processor is further configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel, and map the eCCEs onto the eREG, where REs included in the eREGmapped from the eCCEs are located in the same locations on a time domainand a frequency domain in the corresponding physical resource blockpairs; and map the eREG onto a corresponding resource element in the Lphysical resource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a second physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs is obtained by performing a cyclic shiftfor a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a firstphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs. Theapparatus also includes a third transmitter, configured to send the eCCEby using the resource elements included in the eREGs mapped from theeCCE.

According to a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a fifth processor, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0, where the fifthprocessor is further configured to obtain, according to an aggregationlevel of the control channel, eCCEs that form the control channel, mapthe eCCEs onto the eREG, and map the eREG onto corresponding resourceelements in the L physical resource block pairs, where a sequence numberof an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs of the first transmissionnode is obtained by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number ofan eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pairin physical resource block pairs of a second transmission node. Theapparatus also includes a sixth transmitter, configured to send the eCCEby using the resource elements included in the eREGs corresponding tothe sequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

According to a sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a control channel transmission apparatus. The apparatusincludes a sixth processor, configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0, where the sixthprocessor is further configured to obtain, according to an aggregationlevel of the control channel, eCCEs that form the control channel andsequence numbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE. The sixth processor isfurther configured to map the eREGs onto the resource elements in thephysical resource block pairs corresponding to different subframes ordifferent slots. The apparatus further includes a third transmitter,configured to send the eCCE by using the resource elements included inthe eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers of the eREGs mapped fromthe eCCE.

The sixth processor is configured to: number the eREGs corresponding tothe resource elements in a physical resource block corresponding to afirst subframe or a first slot; perform a cyclic shift for the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the first subframe or the firstslot to obtain sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to theresource elements in a physical resource block corresponding to a secondsubframe or a second slot; and map the eREGs onto the resource elementsin the corresponding physical resource block according to the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second subframe or thesecond slot.

A rule for mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the physicalresource block pairs corresponding to different subframes or differentslots includes: in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of aneREG corresponding to a first RE in a physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot slot being: K^(f)=((K+p)modN), where K^(f) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to thefirst RE in the physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th)subframe or slot, K is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to anRE corresponding to a first subframe or slot and located in the samelocation as the first RE on a time domain and a frequency domain, and pis a step length of a cyclic shift.

The sixth processor is configured to: classify resource elements in thephysical resource block corresponding to the first slot or the firstsubframe into resource elements used to transmit a DMRS and resourceelements not used to transmit the DMRS, perform a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource element used totransmit the DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to thefirst slot or the first subframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a resource element used to transmit the DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe, and perform a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a resource element not used to transmit the DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the first slot or the firstsubframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to aresource element not used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the second slot or the second subframe; and mapthe eREGs onto the resource elements in the corresponding physicalresource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements used to transmit a DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe, or map the eREGs onto the resource elements in thecorresponding physical resource block according to the sequence numbersof the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements not used to transmitthe DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to the second slotor the second subframe.

A mapping rule for mapping each eCCE onto the eREGs includes: in thef^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG in aphysical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being: K^(f) (n)=K ((n+p)mod N), where K^(f) (n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to a first eCCE in thephysical resource block pair in the f^(th) subframe or slot, K(n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to the first eCCE inthe physical resource block pair in a first subframe or a first slotslot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is a step length of the cyclicshift.

Through the foregoing solutions, a certain number of eREGs are selectedto form an eCCE according to the number of valid resource elementsexcept overheads in each eREG, which can keep a balance between actualsizes of the formed eCCEs and further ensure a performance balancebetween the eCCEs. In addition, after the sequence numbers of the eREGsthat form each eCCE are determined, the eREGs are numbered differentlybetween the physical resource block pairs; or, the eREGs of eachphysical resource block pair are numbered differently at differenttransmitting time points of the control channel, or a cyclic shift isperformed for the eREG-to-resource element mapping on the physicalresource block pair between different subframes or slots; or, the cyclicshift is performed for the eREG-to-resource element mapping on thephysical resource block pair between different transmission nodes; or,the cyclic shift is performed for the eREG-to-resource element mappingbetween different physical resource block pairs, which can also keep abalance between actual sizes of the formed eCCEs, further ensure aperformance balance when demodulating each eCCE, and reduceimplementation complexity of a scheduler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the presentinvention more clearly, the following briefly introduces theaccompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments.Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description showmerely some embodiments of the present invention, and a person ofordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from theseaccompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a control channel transmission methodaccording to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of another control channel transmissionmethod according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a structural block diagram of a control channel transmissionapparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4 is a structural block diagram of a selecting unit in the controlchannel transmission apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a structural block diagram of another selecting unit in thecontrol channel transmission apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 6 is a structural block diagram of another control channeltransmission apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a control channel transmission methodaccording to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 8 is a structural block diagram of a control channel transmissionapparatus according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 9 is a structural block diagram of another control channeltransmission apparatus according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a control channel transmissionmethod according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 11 is a structural block diagram of a control channel transmissionapparatus according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 12 is a structural block diagram of another control channeltransmission apparatus according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of a control channel transmissionmethod according to Embodiment 4;

FIG. 14 is a structural block diagram of a control channel transmissionapparatus according to Embodiment 4;

FIG. 15 is a structural block diagram of another control channeltransmission apparatus according to Embodiment 4;

FIG. 16 is a schematic flowchart of a control channel transmissionmethod according to Embodiment 5;

FIG. 17 is a structural block diagram of a control channel transmissionapparatus according to Embodiment 5;

FIG. 18 is a structural block diagram of another control channeltransmission apparatus according to Embodiment 5;

FIG. 19 is a sheet of the sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding tothe REs on the first physical resource block pair according toEmbodiment 3; and

FIG. 20 is a sheet of the sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding tothe REs on the m^(th) physical resource block pair according toEmbodiment 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The following clearly describes the technical solutions in theembodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, thedescribed embodiments are merely a part rather than all of theembodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained bya person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of thepresent invention without creative efforts shall fall within theprotection scope of the present invention.

Embodiment 1

The embodiment of the present invention provides a control channeltransmission method. As shown in FIG. 1, the method includes thefollowing steps:

101. Determine L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmita control channel, where L is an integer greater than 0, and the controlchannel is formed by at least one eCCE.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the physical resourceblock pairs occupied by the control channel are determined first. In theembodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the controlchannel occupies L physical resource block pairs. Meanwhile, the numberof eCCEs that form the control channel can be obtained according to anaggregation level of the control channel. The control channel is formedby at least one eCCE.

102. Group resource elements except a demodulation reference signal(DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physical resourceblock pairs into N eREGs, and calculate the number of valid resourceelements except other overheads in each eREG of the N eREGs of each ofthe physical resource block pairs.

Each physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsincludes several REs. The REs except the DMRS in each physical resourceblock pair are grouped into N groups, that is, form N eREGs, where N isan integer greater than 0.

The N eREGs in each physical resource block pair may have differentoverheads. The overheads include at least one of the following: a CRS, aPDCCH, a PRS, a PBCH, a PSS, and an SSS; and may include no CSI-RS(channel state information-reference signal), which leads to adifference between the numbers of valid REs used to transmit the controlchannel in each eREG. The number of valid REs except the overhead ineach eREG of the N eREGs of each physical resource block pair can becalculated.

103. Map each of the eCCEs onto M eREGs according to the number of validresource elements included in each eREG of the N eREGs.

After the number of valid REs except the overhead in each eREG of the NeREGs of each physical resource block pair is calculated, every M eREGsmay be selected to form an eCCE according to the number of valid REsincluded in each eREG of the N eREGs of each of the physical resourceblock pairs, so that the difference between the numbers of validresource elements occupied by each eCCE is not greater than 5.

Optionally, N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs may begrouped into a first eREG group and a second eREG group according to thenumber of valid resource elements included in the eREG, and each eCCEmay be mapped onto M eREGs of the first eREG group and the second eREGgroup, where: in the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE, the first M/2 eREGsof the M eREGs are in the first eREG group, the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG of the first M/2 eREGs is a differentvalue, the last M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in the second eREG group,and the number of valid resource elements included in each eREG of thelast M/2 eREGs is a different value.

After the number of valid REs except the overhead in each eREG of the NeREGs of each physical resource block pair is calculated, the N eREGs ineach of the physical resource block pairs are grouped into two groupsaccording to the number of valid resource elements: a first eREG groupand a second eREG group. A maximum value of the number of valid REsincluded in the eREGs in one group is less than or equal to a minimumvalue of the number of valid REs included in the eREGs in the othergroup. The number of eREGs included in the first eREG group is equal tothat in the second eREG group, or a difference between the numbers ofeREGs included in the two groups is 1, depending on parity of N. Wheneach of the eCCEs is mapped onto M eREGs, the first M/2 eREGs of the MeREGs are in the first eREG group, and the number of valid resourceelements in each of the M/2 eREGs is a different value; and the last M/2eREGs are in the second eREG group, and the number of valid resourceelements in each of the M/2 eREGs is a different value. Certainly, whentypes of the numbers of valid resources of the eREGs are less than thevalue of M, the number of valid resource elements in each of the lastM/2 eREGs or the first M/2 eREGs may also be a same value.

104. Send the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG.

The eCCE is mapped to M eREGs according to step 103 until at least oneeCCE that forms the control channel is mapped onto the different M eREGsrespectively, so that the corresponding eCCE can be sent by using theREs included in the M eREGs.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are on the samephysical resource block pair, the selecting M eREGs to form an eCCEaccording to the number of actual REs included in each eREG of the NeREGs of each of the physical resource block pairs in step 103 includes:numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0,1, 2, . . . , N−1, and using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the NeREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGin the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t isan integer greater than 0; selecting one eREG respectively from each ofthe sets S¹, S², S^(t-1) . . . sequentially until M eREGs are selectedin total, and mapping one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto M eREGs;and removing the selected eREGs from corresponding sets, reselecting MeREGs, and mapping another eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto thereselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physical resource blockpair are mapped.

It is assumed that M=4 and N=8, and each of the eREGs numbered 0 and 3in S¹ occupies 11 valid REs; each of the eREGs numbered 2 and 6 in S²occupies 12 valid REs; each of the eREGs numbered 1 and 4 in S³ occupies13 valid REs; and each of the eREGs numbered 5 and 7 in S⁴ occupies 14valid REs. First, according to the number of valid REs included in eacheREG, the eREGs are sorted into: S¹, S², S³, and S⁴. Then one eREG isselected from S¹, S⁴, S², and S³ respectively, where the eREG whosesequence number is X is denoted by eREG#X, and therefore, the selectedM=4 eREGs may be (eREG#0, eREG#7, eREG#2, and eREG#4). One eCCE in theat least one eCCE is mapped onto M eREGs. Then the selected eREGs(eREG#0, eREG#7, eREG#2, eREG#4) are removed from the sorted sequence,sorting is performed again, M=4 eREGs (eREG#3, eREG#5, eREG#6, eREG#1)are selected, and another eCCE in the at least one eCCE is mapped ontothe reselected 4 eREGs. Now the sequence numbers of all the 8 eREGs ofthe physical resource block pair are mapped onto. In this way, the twoeCCEs in the control channel can be transmitted on the correspondingmapped eREGs. The number of valid REs included in the eREG mapped fromone of the eCCEs is 50, and the number of valid REs included in the eREGmapped from the other eCCE is also 50, so that the actual sizes of thetwo eCCEs are balanced.

Optionally, the mapping each of the eCCEs onto M eREGs according to thenumber of valid resource elements included in each eREG of the N eREGsmay further include: numbering the N eREGs in each of the physicalresource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and using S^(i) to denotea set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t),D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0; sorting theS^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i) into S¹, S², . . . ,S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order ofsequence numbers of the eREGs; grouping the sorted N eREGs into p groupsby putting every M/2 eREGs into one group, where the k^(th) groupincludes a ((k−1)*M/2+1)^(th) eREG, a ((k−1)*M/2+2)^(th) eREG, . . . ,and a (k*M/2)^(th) eREG in a sorted sequence, where k=0, 1, . . . , p;and mapping the eCCEs onto the eREGs included in the x^(th) group andthe (p−x)^(th) group, where x is any value in 0, 1, . . . , p.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are on the samephysical resource block pair, the mapping each eCCE onto the M eREGsaccording to the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGof the N eREGs in step 103 includes the following steps.

Step 21: Number the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairsas 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and use S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the NeREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGin the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t isan integer greater than 0; and sort the S^(i) in ascending order ofD^(i) in the S^(i) into S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in theset S^(i) are sorted in ascending order of sequence numbers of theeREGs.

The N eREGs included in each physical resource block pair in the Lphysical resource block pair are numbered 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1. In step102, the number of valid REs included in the N eREGs is calculated asD^(i). Here, some eREGs in the N eREGs include valid REs of the samenumber, and other eREGs include valid REs of the different numbers. Thenumbers of valid REs included in eREGs comes in t types, which are D¹,D², . . . , D^(i) respectively, where D¹<D²< . . . <D^(i), t is aninteger greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to N. S^(i)denotes a set of all eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of valid REsincluded in each eREG in the set is D^(i), and therefore, the sets ofeREGs in the physical resource block pair are S¹, S², . . . , and S^(t).According to the number of included valid REs and the eREG sequencenumber, the N eREGs are sorted into S¹, S², . . . , and S^(t), where thenumber of valid REs included in each eREG in the set S¹ is D¹. Byanalogy, the number of valid REs included in each eREG in the set S^(i)is D^(i). The number of valid REs included in each eREG in the set S¹ isthe smallest, and the number of valid REs included in each eREG in theset S^(t) is the greatest. The eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted inascending order of the sequence numbers of the eREGs. For example, thesequence numbers of the eREGs in S^(i) are 0, 4, and 3, in which theeREG whose sequence number is X is denoted by eREG#X, and therefore, theeREGs in S^(i) are sorted into {eREG#0≤eREG#3≤eREG#4}.

Step 22: According to the set sorting in step 21, express S¹ . . . S^(a)sorted out of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, andexpress S^(i) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the setS^(t) as a reverse set group; and select a set S^(i) in the sequentialset group and the reverse set group alternately and sequentiallyaccording to a value of i, select one eREG from one set S^(i)respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in the set S^(i)until M eREGs are selected, and map one eCCE in the at least one eCCEonto the selected M eREGs, where a=t/2 when t is an even number, anda=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number.

When M is greater than t, after t eREGs are selected from the sets S¹ toS^(i) according to step 22, the selected eREGs are removed, and eREGsare still selected from the sets S¹ to S^(i) according to step 22 untilM eREGs are selected.

According to the selection method in step 22, because the N eREGs ineach physical resource block pair are sorted identically, for one of thephysical resource block pairs, the set S¹ is selected in the sequentialset group sequentially according to the sequence from the set S¹ to theset S^(a), and then the set S^(t) is selected alternately in the reverseset group sequentially according to the sequence from the set S^(t) tothe set S^(a+1). Subsequently, a set S² is further selected alternatelyin the sequential set group sequentially according to the sequence fromthe set S¹ to the set S^(a), and a set S^(t-1) is selected in thereverse set group sequentially according to the sequence from the setS^(t) to the set S^(a+1). In this way, according to the sequence and inan alternate manner, a set is selected in the sequential set groupsequentially and a set is selected in the reverse set group sequentiallyuntil M sets are selected. In the selected M sets, an eREG with thesmallest sequence number is selected in the sets of the sequential setgroup, and an eREG with the greatest sequence number is selected in thesets of the reverse set group, so that a group of M eREGs are selected.One eCCE in the at least one eCCE is mapped onto the selected M eREGs.In the scenario described here, M is less than or equal to t. When M isgreater than t, t eREGs may be selected from the sets S^(i) to S^(t) inthe way described in step 22, the selected t eREGs are removed from thesequence {S¹}<{S²}< . . . <{S^(t)}, eREGs are still selected in the waydescribed in step 22 until M eREGs are selected, and one eCCE in the atleast one eCCE is mapped onto the selected M eREGs.

Step 23: Remove the selected eREGs from corresponding sets, performsorting again and reselecting M eREGs according to step 21 and step 22,and map another eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the reselected MeREGs until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair aremapped onto.

After the selected M eREGs are removed from the sorted sequence S¹, S²,. . . , S^(t), the remaining eREGs are still sorted according to thenumber of included valid REs and the eREG sequence number in the waydescribed in step 21, M eREGs are reselected in the way described instep 22, and another eCCE in the at least one eCCE is mapped onto thereselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physical resource blockpair are mapped onto.

For each physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs, each eCCE is mapped onto M eREGs in the way described in steps 21to 23, and then the corresponding eCCE can be sent by using the resourceelements included in the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

Specifically, a specific example of the method described in steps 21 to23 is given below:

It is assumed that a physical resource block pair includes 8 eREGs thatare numbered 0, 1, . . . , 7. The control channel is formed by 4 eCCEsaccording to the aggregation level of the control channel. Each eCCE ismapped onto 2 eREGs. The eREG whose sequence number is X is denoted byeREG#X. The number of valid REs except overhead in the 8 eREGs is asfollows: The number of valid REs except overhead in eREG#0, eREG#1,REG#3, and eREG#6 is 11, and the number of valid REs except overhead ineREG#2, eREG#4, REG#5, and eREG#7 is 14. A set of the 4 eREGs (eREG#0,eREG#1, REG#3, and eREG#6) corresponding to the number 11 is denoted byS¹, and a set of the 4 eREGs (eREG#2, eREG#4, REG#5, and eREG#7)corresponding to the number 14 is denoted by S².

First, step 21 is performed. According to the number of valid REsincluded in each eREG and the sequence numbers of the eREGs, the eREGsare sorted into {S¹: eREG#0, eREG#1, eREG#3, eREG#6} and {S²: eREG#2,eREG#4, eREG#5, eREG#7}.

Subsequently, step 22 is performed. In this case, t=2 and M=2. TheeREG#0 with the smallest sequence number is selected in S¹, and theeREG#7 with the greatest sequence number is selected in S². Now M=2eREGs are selected. One eCCE in the 4 eCCEs is mapped onto the selected2 eREGs: eREG#0 and eREG#7.

Subsequently, step 23 is performed. The selected eREGs (eREG#0 andeREG#7) are removed, and step 21 and step 22 are performed again. TheeREGs are sorted again into {S¹: eREG#1, eREG#3, eREG#6} and {S²:eREG#2, eREG#4, eREG#5}. The eREG#1 with the smallest sequence number isselected in S¹, and the eREG#5 with the greatest sequence number isselected in S². Now M=2 eREGs are selected: eREG#1 and eREG#5. Thesecond eCCE in the 4 eCCEs is mapped onto the selected M=2 eREGs: eREG#1and eREG#5. In this way, the selected eREGs are removed and steps 21 and22 are repeated until all the 8 eREGs in the physical resource blockpair are mapped onto.

Finally, the 4 eCCEs are mapped onto the 8 eREGs respectively. Themapping result is:

eCCE 0: eREG#0 and eREG #7;

eCCE 1: eREG#1 and eREG #5;

eCCE 2: eREG#3 and eREG #4; and

eCCE 3: eREG#6 and eREG #2.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from each eCCE are distributed on L(L>1) physical resource block pairs, if the L physical resource blockpairs have the same overhead, the mapping each eCCE onto the M eREGsaccording to the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGof the N eREGs in step 103 includes the following steps.

Step 31: Number the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairsas 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and use S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the NeREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGin the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t isan integer greater than 0; and sort the S^(i) in ascending order of thenumber D^(i) of valid resource elements included in each eREG in theS^(i) into S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) aresorted in ascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs.

Here, the sorting method is the same as the sorting method described instep 21, the number of valid REs included in each eREG in the set S¹ isthe smallest, and the number of valid REs included in each eREG in theset S^(t) is the greatest. The eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted inascending order of the sequence numbers of the eREGs. For example, thesequence numbers of the eREGs in S^(i) are 0, 4, and 3, and therefore,the eREGs in S^(i) are sorted into {eREG#0, eREG#3, eREG#4}.

Here, it should be noted that in the L physical resource block pairs,each physical resource block pair has the same overhead, N eREGs in eachphysical resource block pair have the same sequence number, and theeREGs that have the same sequence number include the same number ofvalid REs. Therefore, in each physical resource block pair, N eREGs aresorted identically.

Step 32: According to the set sorting in step 31, express S¹ . . . S^(a)sorted out of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, andexpress S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the setS^(t) as a reverse set group; and select a set S^(i) in the sequentialset group and the reverse set group alternately and sequentiallyaccording to a value of i, and select one eREG from one set S^(i)respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in the set S^(i)until a group of M eREGs are selected, where a=t/2 when t is an evennumber, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number.

When M is greater than t, after t eREGs are selected from the sets S¹ toS^(t) according to step 32, the selected eREGs are removed, and eREGsare still selected from the sets S¹ to S^(t) according to step 32 untilM eREG sequence numbers are selected.

Because the N eREGs in each physical resource block pair are sortedidentically, for one of the physical resource block pairs, the set S¹ isselected in the sequential set group sequentially according to thesequence from the set S¹ to the set S^(a), and then the set S^(t) isselected alternately in the reverse set group sequentially according tothe sequence from the set S^(t) to the set S^(a+1). Subsequently, a setS² is further selected alternately in the sequential set groupsequentially according to the sequence from the set S¹ to the set S^(a),and a set S^(t-1) is selected in the reverse set group sequentiallyaccording to the sequence from the set S^(t) to the set S^(a+1). In thisway, according to the sequence and in an alternate manner, a set isselected in the sequential set group sequentially and a set is selectedin the reverse set group sequentially until M sets are selected. In theselected M sets, an eREG with the smallest sequence number is selectedin the sets of the sequential set group, and an eREG with the greatestsequence number is selected in the sets of the reverse set group, sothat a group of M eREGs are selected. Certainly, the foregoing describesa scenario in which M is less than or equal to t. When M is greater thant, t eREGs may be selected from the sets S¹ to S^(t) in the waydescribed in step 32, the selected t eREGs are removed from the sequenceS¹, S², . . . , S^(t), and eREGs are still selected in the way describedin step 32 until a group of M eREGs are selected.

Step 33: Remove the selected eREGs from corresponding sets, and performsorting again and select another group of M eREGs according to step 31and step 32 until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pairare selected.

After the selected M eREGs are removed from the sorted sequence{S¹}<{S²}< . . . <{S^(t)}, the remaining eREGs are still sortedaccording to the number of included valid REs and the eREG sequencenumber in the way described in step 31, and a group of M eREGs areselected in the way described in step 32 until the sequence numbers ofall the N eREGs in the physical resource block pair are selected.

Step 34: Group the L physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M)physical resource block groups by putting every M physical resourceblock pairs into one group, map the selected M eREGs in each group ontoM physical resource block pairs in each of the floor(L/M) physicalresource block groups respectively, and map each eCCE in the L physicalresource block pairs onto the M eREGs respectively, where floor refersto rounding down.

If L is divisible by M, the L physical resource block pairs are groupedinto L/M physical resource block groups by putting every M physicalresource block pairs into one group. For example, if M=4 and L=4, the Lphysical resource blocks form a physical resource block group (physicalresource block pair 0, physical resource block pair 1, physical resourceblock pair 2, and physical resource block pair 3); and, when the L valueis not divisible by the M value, the remaining Q physical resourceblocks and the (M-Q) physical resource blocks selected from the Lphysical resource blocks form a group of M physical resource blocks. IfL=3 and M=4, the L physical resource block pairs are physical resourceblock pair 0, physical resource block pair 1, and physical resourceblock pair 2, respectively, and (4-3)=1 physical resource block in L=3physical resource blocks is selected to form a group of 3 physicalresource blocks with the 3 physical resource blocks, which may be(physical resource block pair 0, physical resource block pair 1,physical resource block pair 2, physical resource block pair 0).Similarly, the other two combinations should be (physical resource blockpair 1, physical resource block pair 2, physical resource block pair 0,physical resource block pair 1) and (physical resource block pair 2,physical resource block pair 0, physical resource block pair 1, physicalresource block pair 2).

In step 33, several groups of M eREGs are selected. Each group of MeREGs correspond respectively to M physical resource block pairs mappedonto each group in the physical resource block group to form M eREGs onseveral M physical resource block pairs. One eCCE is mapped onto M eREGsuntil all the M eREGs on the several M physical resource block pairs aremapped onto. That is, it is assumed that M=2 and L=2, a group of M=2eREGs is (eREG#0, eREG1), and a physical resource block pair combinationis (physical resource block pair 0, physical resource block pair 1).Therefore, the M eREGs are respectively mapped onto the M physicalresource block pairs in each group in the physical resource block groupto form 2 groups of M eREGs on the M physical resource block pairs:(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#0, physical resource block pair 1:eREG#1) and (physical resource block pair 0: eREG#1, physical resourceblock pair 1: eREG#0). One eCCE is mapped onto (physical resource blockpair 0: eREG#0, physical resource block pair 1: eREG#1), and the othereCCE is mapped onto (physical resource block pair 0: eREG#1, physicalresource block pair 1: eREG#0).

Specifically, a specific example of the method described in steps 31 to35 is given below.

It is assumed that L=4, each physical resource block pair includes 8eREGs, each eCCE is mapped onto 4 eREGs, and the 4 physical resourceblock pairs have the same overhead. One of the physical resource blockpairs is used as an example. It is assumed that the overheaddistribution in the physical resource block pair is: 24 DMRS REs, CRSREs of 2 antenna ports, PDCCHs of 2 OFDM symbols, and CSI-RSs of 4antenna ports. After the overhead is deducted, the following sets areformed according to the actual size of each eREG:

S¹: Each eREG in {eREG#0, eREG#3} includes D¹=11 REs;

S²: Each eREG in {eREG#2, eREG#6} includes D²=12 REs;

S³: Each eREG in {eREG#1, eREG#4} includes D³=13 REs; and

S⁴: Each eREG in {eREG#5, eREG#7} includes D⁴=14 REs.

First, step 31 is performed. According to the number of valid REsincluded in each eREG and the sequence number of each eREG, the eREGsmay be sorted into {S¹: eREG#0, eREG#3}, {S²: eREG#2, eREG#6}, {S³:eREG#1, eREG#4}, and {S⁴: eREG#5, eREG#7}.

Subsequently, step 32 is performed. In this case, t=4, the sequentialset group is {S¹, S²}, and the reverse set group is {S⁴, S³}. The eREGwith the smallest sequence number, that is, eREG#0, is selected in S¹,the eREG with the greatest sequence number, that is, eREG#7, is selectedin S⁴, and then according to the sequence of the sequential set groupand the reverse set group, the eREG with the smallest sequence number,that is, eREG#2, is selected in S², and the eREG with the greatestsequence number, that is, eREG#4, is selected in S³ Now M=4 eREGs(eREG#0, eREG#7, eREG#2, eREG#4) are selected.

When step 33 is performed, the selected eREGs (eREG#0, eREG#7, eREG#2,eREG#4) are removed from the sorted sequence, sorting is performed againaccording to step 31 and step 32, and a group of M=4 eREGs (eREG#3,eREG#5, eREG#6, eREG#1) are selected. Now all the 8 eREGs of thephysical resource block pair are selected.

Step 34 is performed, and the selected 4 eREGs in each group are mappedonto the physical resource block group (physical resource block pair 0,physical resource block pair 1, physical resource block pair 2, physicalresource block pair 3) respectively to form M eREGs on several Mphysical resource block pairs are formed.

A group of 4 eREGs (eREG#0, eREG#7, eREG#2, eREG#4) are mapped onto thephysical resource block group (physical resource block pair 0, physicalresource block pair 1, physical resource block pair 2, physical resourceblock pair 3) to form 4 eREGs on 4 physical resource block pairs, andone eCCE is mapped onto 4 eREGs, where the mapping is as follows:

eCCE1: (physical resource block pair 0: eREG#0), (physical resourceblock pair 1: eREG#7), (physical resource block pair 2: eREG#2), and(physical resource block pair 3: eREG#4);

eCCE2: (physical resource block pair 1: eREG#0), (physical resourceblock pair 2: eREG#7), (physical resource block pair 3: eREG#2), and(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#4);

eCCE3: (physical resource block pair 2: eREG#0), (physical resourceblock pair 3: eREG#7), (physical resource block pair 0: eREG#2), and(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#4); and

eCCE4: (physical resource block pair 3: eREG#0), (physical resourceblock pair 0: eREG#7), (physical resource block pair 1: eREG#2), and(physical resource block pair 2: eREG#4).

Another group of 4 eREGs (eREG#3, eREG#5, eREG#6, eREG#1) are mappedonto the physical resource block group (physical resource block pair 0,physical resource block pair 1, physical resource block pair 2, physicalresource block pair 3) to form 4 eREGs on 4 physical resource blockpairs, and one eCCE is mapped onto 4 eREGs, where the mapping is asfollows:

eCCE5: (physical resource block pair 1: eREG#3), (physical resourceblock pair 2: eREG#5), (physical resource block pair 3: eREG#6), and(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#1);

eCCE6: (physical resource block pair 0: eREG#3), (physical resourceblock pair 1: eREG#5), (physical resource block pair 2: eREG#6), and(physical resource block pair 3: eREG#1);

eCCE7: (physical resource block pair 2: eREG#3), (physical resourceblock pair 3: eREG#5), (physical resource block pair 0: eREG#6), and(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#1); and

eCCE8: (physical resource block pair 3: eREG#3), (physical resourceblock pair 0: eREG#5), (physical resource block pair 1: eREG#6), and(physical resource block pair 2: eREG#1).

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are distributed on L(L>1) physical resource block pairs, the L physical resource block pairshave different overheads. The overheads of some physical resource blockpairs of the L physical resource block pairs include a PBCH and aPSS/SSS, and the overheads of other physical resource block pairs do notinclude the PBCH or the PSS/SSS, and therefore, the selecting M eREGs toform an eCCE according to the number of valid REs included in each eREGof the N eREGs of each physical resource block pair in step 103specifically includes: in the physical resource block pair, mapping,according to steps 31 to 35 and according to the number of valid REsincluded in the eREG, one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto P eREGs inthe physical resource block pairs that include the PBCH and the PSS/SSSand onto (M-P) eREGs in the physical resource block pairs that do notinclude the PBCH or the PSS/SSS until all the eREGs in the L physicalresource block pairs are mapped onto.

Specifically, in this case, the physical resource block pairs areclassified into two types according to whether they transmit thePBCH/PSS/SSS, and in the physical resource block pair, one eCCE in theat least one eCCE is mapped, according to steps 31 to 35 and accordingto the number of valid REs included in the eREG, onto P eREGs in thephysical resource block pairs that include the PBCH and the PSS/SSS andonto (M-P) eREGs in the physical resource block pairs that do notinclude the PBCH or the PSS/SSS. It is assumed that 4 physical resourceblock pairs are used to transmit the control channel, where 2 physicalresource block pairs transmit the PBCH/PSS/SSS, and the other 2 physicalresource block pairs do not transmit the PBCH/PSS/SSS. The controlchannel is formed by 8 eCCEs, where M=4.

It is assumed that, according to steps 31 to 35, a result of mapping the8 eCCEs onto P=2 eREGs in 2 physical resource block pairs that transmitthe PBCH/PSS/SSS is as follows:

(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#0)+(physical resource block pair1: eREG#7); C1_(1)

(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#1)+(physical resource block pair1: eREG#6); C1_(2)

(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#2)+(physical resource block pair1: eREG#5); C1_(3)

(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#3)+(physical resource block pair1: eREG#4); C1_(4)

(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#0)+(physical resource block pair0: eREG#7); C1_(5)

(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#1)+(physical resource block pair0: eREG#6); C1_(6)

(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#2)+(physical resource block pair0: eREG#5); C1_(7)

(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#3)+(physical resource block pair0: eREG#4); C1_(8)

It is assumed that, according to steps 31 to 35, a result of mapping the8 eCCEs onto 2 eREGs in 2 physical resource block pairs that do nottransmit the PBCH/PSS/SSS is as follows:

(physical resource block pair 3, eREG#0)+(physical resource block pair4, eREG#7); C2_(1)

(physical resource block pair 3, eREG#1)+(physical resource block pair4, eREG#6); C2_(2)

(physical resource block pair 3, eREG#2)+(physical resource block pair4, eREG#5); C2_(3)

(physical resource block pair 3, eREG#3)+(physical resource block pair4, eREG#4); C2_(4)

(physical resource block pair 4, eREG#0)+(physical resource block pair3, eREG#7); C2_(5)

(physical resource block pair 4, eREG#1)+(physical resource block pair3, eREG#6); C2_(6)

(physical resource block pair 4, eREG#2)+(physical resource block pair3, eREG#5); C2_(7)

(physical resource block pair 4, eREG#3)+(physical resource block pair3, eREG#4); C2_(8)

Therefore, a result of mapping each eCCE onto 4 eREGs is as follows:

eCCE1: C1_(1)+C2_(1)=(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#0)+(physicalresource block pair 1: eREG#7)+(physical resource block pair 3:eREG#0)+(physical resource block pair 4: eREG#7);

eCCE2: C1_(2)+C2_(2)=(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#1)+(physicalresource block pair 1: eREG#6)+(physical resource block pair 3:eREG#1)+(physical resource block pair 4: eREG#6);

eCCE3: C1_(3)+C2_(3)=(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#2)+(physicalresource block pair 1: eREG#5)+(physical resource block pair 3:eREG#2)+(physical resource block pair 4: eREG#5);

eCCE4: C1_(4)+C2_(4)=(physical resource block pair 0: eREG#3)+(physicalresource block pair 1: eREG#4)+(physical resource block pair 3:eREG#3)+(physical resource block pair 4: eREG#4);

eCCE5: C1_(5)+C2_(5)=(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#0)+(physicalresource block pair 0: eREG#7)+(physical resource block pair 4:eREG#0)+(physical resource block pair 3: eREG#7);

eCCE6: C1_(6)+C2_(6)=(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#1)+(physicalresource block pair 0: eREG#6)+(physical resource block pair 4:eREG#1)+(physical resource block pair 3: eREG#6);

eCCE7: C1_(7)+C2_(7)=(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#2)+(physicalresource block pair 0: eREG#5)+(physical resource block pair 4:eREG#2)+(physical resource block pair 3: eREG#5); and

eCCE8: C1_(8)+C2_(8)=(physical resource block pair 1: eREG#3)+(physicalresource block pair 0: eREG#4)+(physical resource block pair 4:eREG#3)+(physical resource block pair 3: eREG#4).

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission method. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes thefollowing steps.

201. Determine L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmita control channel, where L is an integer greater than 0, and the controlchannel is formed by at least one eCCE.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the physical resourceblock pairs occupied by the control channel are determined first. In theembodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the controlchannel occupies L physical resource block pairs. Meanwhile, the numberof eCCEs that form the control channel can be obtained according to anaggregation level of the control channel. The control channel is formedby at least one eCCE.

202. Resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ineach physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairscorrespond to N eREGs.

Each physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsincludes several REs. The REs except the DMRS in each physical resourceblock pair correspond to N groups, that is, form N eREGs, where N is aninteger greater than 0.

203. Map each of the eCCEs onto M eREGs.

Here, a base station may determine sequence numbers of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE in the corresponding physical resource blockpairs; and map each of the eCCEs onto the eREGs corresponding to the MeREG sequence numbers.

In K=floor(N/M) given below, floor refers to rounding down, and i=0, 1,. . . , or L*K−1; j=0, 1, . . . , or M−1.

The sequence numbers, in the corresponding PRBs, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE are calculated in the following twoscenarios:

The first scenario is: When L=1, a sequence number of the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE may be calculated by usingLoc_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then the sequence numbers, in the L=1physical resource block pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCEare calculated.

For example, when N=16 and M=4, K=floor(N/M)=floor(16/4)=4, and thesequence number of the (j=0)^(th) eREG corresponding to the (i=0)^(th)eCCE is Loc_eCCE 0_0=(i+j*K) mod N=((0+0*4) mod 16)=0. In this way, thesequence numbers, in the L=1 physical resource block pair, of the MeREGs corresponding to each eCCE can be calculated consecutively.

The second scenario is: When L>1, it is needed to calculate the sequencenumber of the eREG corresponding to the eCCE first and then calculatethe PRB that includes the eREG corresponding to this sequence number.Three optional calculation manners are available:

The first calculation manner is: First, the sequence number of thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE is calculated:

Dis_eCCE_i_j=(Loc_eCCE_t_j+p*K)mod N,

where Loc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K) mod N, t=floor(i/L), and p=i mod L.

Then the sequence number of the corresponding physical resource blockpair that includes the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE iscalculated:

R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j)mod L.

For example, when L=4, N=16, and M=4, K=floor(N/M)=floor(16/4)=4. Whencalculating the (j=1)^(st) eREG corresponding to the (i=1)^(st) eCCE,Loc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K) mod N=(floor(i/L)+j*K) mod N=(floor(¼)+1*4) mod16=4 is calculated first, so as to obtain the sequence number of the(j=1)^(st) eREG corresponding to the (i=1)^(st) eCCE by usingDis_eCCE_1_1=(Loc_eCCE_t_j+p*K) mod N=(4+(i mod L)*K) mod N=(4+(1 mod4)*4) mod 16=8. Then according to R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) modL=(floor(1/(4*4))*4+1) mod 4=1, the sequence number of the (j=1)^(st)eREG corresponding to the (i=1)^(st) eCCE is the eREG numbered 8 in thephysical resource block pair numbered 1 in the L physical resource blockpairs. In this way, calculation can be performed consecutively to knowwhich eREG sequence number in which physical resource block paircorresponds to each eREG corresponding to each eCCE.

The second calculation manner is: First, the sequence number of thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE is calculated by usingDis_eCCE_i_j=((t+j*K) mod N+p*K)mod N, and then the sequence number of acorresponding physical resource block pair that includes the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE is calculated by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, where t=floor(i/L), and p=i mod L.

According to the foregoing formula, a person skilled in the art caneasily calculate and know which eREG sequence number in which physicalresource block pair corresponds to each eREG corresponding to each eCCE,which is not described here any further with an example.

The third calculation manner is: First, the sequence number of thej^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE is calculated by usingDis_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then the sequence number of acorresponding physical resource block pair that includes the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE is calculated by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE.

When the number L of configured physical resource block pairs is greaterthan the number M of eREGs mapped from each eCCE, it is only needed togroup the L configured physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) or(floor(L/M)+1) groups first by putting every M physical resource blockpairs into one group, where the number of physical resource block pairsincluded in each group is M or L−floor(L/M). In each group (at thistime, the number of physical resource block pairs in each group is L1=Mor L−floor(L/M)), the foregoing formula is applied respectively toobtain the eCCE-to-eREG mapping on all the L physical resource blockpairs. A sequence number w_(i) of a PRB pair in the i^(th) group, whichis obtained according to the foregoing formula, is operated according toa formula w=w_(i)+i*M to obtain a sequence number w of the PRB pair inall the L physical resource block pairs, where i=0, 1, . . . ,floor(L/M)−1 or floor(L/M).

For example, when L=16 and M=8, the L physical resource block pairs aregrouped into two groups first by putting every 8 physical resource blockpairs into one group. For example, the first 8 physical resource blockpairs form a first group, and the last 8 physical resource block pairsform a second group. In the first group, L=8 and M=8 are substitutedinto the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGs mapped from all eCCEs inthe first 8 physical resource block pairs and obtain sequence numbers w₁of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₁ is substituted into aformula w₁+0*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w of the PRB pairs in theL physical resource block pairs. Similarly, in the second group, L=8 andM=8 are substituted into the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGsmapped from all eCCEs in the last 8 physical resource block pairs andobtain sequence numbers w₂ of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; andw₂ is substituted into a formula w₂+1*8 to obtain the sequence numbers wof the PRB pairs in the L physical resource block pairs.

According to the foregoing formula, a person skilled in the art caneasily calculate and know which eREG sequence number in which physicalresource block pair corresponds to each eREG corresponding to each eCCE,which is not described here any further with an example.

204. Send the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG.

After each eCCE is mapped onto the M eREGs according to step 203, thecorresponding eCCE may be sent by using the REs included in the M eREGs.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatusincludes a determining unit 301, a grouping and calculating unit 302, amapping unit 303, and a sending unit 304.

The determining unit 301 is configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, where L is aninteger greater than 0, and the control channel is formed by at leastone eCCE.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the determining unit 301determines the physical resource block pairs occupied by the controlchannel. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed thatthe control channel occupies L physical resource block pairs. Meanwhile,the number of eCCEs that form the control channel can be obtainedaccording to an aggregation level of the control channel. The controlchannel is formed by at least one eCCE.

The grouping and calculating unit 302 is configured to group resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs determined bythe determining unit 301 into N eREGs, and calculate the number of validresource elements except other overheads in each eREG of the N eREGs ineach of the physical resource block pairs, where N is an integer greaterthan 0, and the other overheads include at least one of the following: aCRS, a PDCCH, a PBCH, and a PSS/SSS, and may include no channel stateinformation reference signal (CSI-RS).

Each physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsincludes several REs. The grouping and calculating unit 302 groups theREs except the DMRS in each physical resource block pair into N groups,so that N eREGs are formed, where N is an integer greater than 0.

The mapping unit 303 is configured to map each of the eCCEs onto M eREGsaccording to the number of valid resource elements included in each eREGof the N eREGs of each physical resource block pair, where the number ofvalid resource elements is calculated by the grouping and calculatingunit 302, and M is an integer greater than 0.

After the grouping and calculating unit 302 calculates the number ofvalid REs except the overhead in each eREG of the N eREGs of eachphysical resource block pair, the mapping unit 303 may select every MeREGs to form an eCCE according to the number of valid REs included ineach eREG of the N eREGs of each of the physical resource block pairs,so that the difference between the numbers of valid resource elementsoccupied by the eCCEs is not greater than 5.

Optionally, the mapping unit 303 is specifically configured to group NeREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs into a first eREGgroup and a second eREG group according to the number of valid resourceelements included in the eREG, and map each eCCE onto M eREGs of thefirst eREG group and the second eREG group, where: in the M eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE, the first M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in the first eREGgroup, the number of valid resource elements included in each eREG ofthe first M/2 eREGs is a different value, the last M/2 eREGs of the MeREGs are in the second eREG group, and the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG of the last M/2 eREGs is a differentvalue.

Optionally, the mapping unit 303 is specifically configured to numberthe N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . .. , N−1, and use S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, wherethe number of valid resource elements included in each eREG in the setis D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integergreater than 0; select one eREG respectively from each of the sets S¹,S^(t), S², S^(t-1) . . . sequentially until M eREGs are selected intotal, and map one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto M eREGs; andremove the selected eREGs from corresponding sets, reselect M eREGs, andmap another eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the reselected M eREGsuntil all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair are mapped.

Optionally, the mapping unit is specifically configured to number the NeREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . ,N−1, and use S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where thenumber of valid resource elements included in each eREG in the set isD^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integergreater than 0; sort the S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i)into S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sortedin ascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs; group the sorted NeREGs into p groups by putting every M/2 eREGs into one group, where thek^(th) group includes a ((k−1)*M/2+1)^(th) eREG, a ((k−1)*M/2+2)^(th)eREG, . . . , and a (k*M/2)^(th) eREG in a sorted sequence, where k=0,1, . . . , p; and map the eCCEs onto the eREGs included in the x^(th)group and the (p−x)^(th) group, where x is any value in 0, 1, . . . , p.

The sending unit 304 is configured to send the eCCE by using theresource elements included in the eREG mapped by the mapping unit 303.

The mapping unit 303 maps the eCCE to M eREGs until at least one eCCEthat forms the control channel is mapped onto the different M eREGsrespectively, so that the corresponding eCCE can be sent by using theREs included in the M eREGs.

Optionally, when the M eREGs that form the eCCE are on the same physicalresource block pair, as shown in FIG. 4, the mapping unit 303specifically includes a first sorting subunit 3031, a first mappingsubunit 3032, and a cyclic selecting unit 3033.

The first sorting subunit 3031 is configured to perform step 21, wherestep 21 is: numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource blockpairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGsin the N eREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t),and t is an integer greater than 0; and sorting the S^(i) in ascendingorder of D^(i) in the S^(i) into S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGsin the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order of sequence numbers ofthe eREGs.

The first mapping subunit 3032 is configured to perform step 22, wherestep 22 is: according to the sorting of the set S^(i) in the firstsorting subunit 3031, expressing S¹ . . . S^(a) sorted out of the setsS¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, and expressing S^(t) . . .S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the set S^(t) as a reverse setgroup; and selecting a set S^(i) in the sequential set group and thereverse set group alternately and sequentially according to a value ofi, selecting one eREG from one set S^(i) respectively according to asequence number of the eREG in the set S^(i) until M eREGs are selected,and mapping one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the selected M eREGs,where a=t/2 when t is an even number, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an oddnumber.

When M is greater than t, after selecting t eREGs from the sets S¹ toS^(i) according to step 22, the first mapping subunit 3032 removes theselected eREGs, and still selects eREGs from the sets S¹ to S^(t)according to step 22 until M eREGs are selected, and maps one eCCE inthe at least one eCCE onto the selected M eREGs.

The cyclic selecting unit 3033 is further configured to perform step 23,where step 23 is: removing, from a sorted sequence, the eREGs selectedby the first mapping subunit 3032, performing, by the first sortingsubunit 3031, sorting again according to step 21, and reselecting, bythe first mapping subunit 3032, M eREGs according to step 22, andmapping another eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the reselected MeREGs until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair aremapped onto.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are on differentphysical resource blocks and all the physical resource block pairs havethe same overhead distribution, as shown in FIG. 5, the mapping unit 303may further include a second sorting subunit 3041, a second mappingsubunit 3042, a second cyclic selecting unit 3043, and acorrespond-mapping subunit 3044.

The second sorting subunit 3041 is configured to number the N eREGs ineach of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, useS^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of validresource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . .. , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0, andsort the S^(i) in ascending order of the number D^(i) of valid resourceelements in each eREG in the S^(i) into:

S ¹ ,S ² , . . . ,S ^(t),

where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order ofsequence numbers of the eREGs.

The second mapping subunit 3042 is configured to perform step 32, wherestep 32 is: according to the sorting of the set S^(i) in the secondsorting subunit 3041, expressing S¹ . . . S^(a) sorted out of the setsS¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, and expressing S^(t) . . .S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the set S^(t) as a reverse setgroup; and selecting a set S^(i) in the sequential set group and thereverse set group alternately and sequentially according to a value ofi, and selecting one eREG from one set S^(i) respectively according to asequence number of the eREG in the set S^(i) until M eREGs are selected,where a=t/2 when t is an even number, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an oddnumber.

When M is greater than t, after selecting t eREGs from the sets S¹ toS^(t) according to step 32, the second mapping subunit 3042 removes theselected eREGs, and still selects eREGs from the sets S¹ to S^(t)according to step 32 until M eREGs are selected.

The second cyclic selecting unit 3043 is configured to perform step 33,where step 33 is: removing, from a sorted sequence, the eREGs selectedby the second mapping subunit 3042, performing, by the second sortingsubunit 3041, sorting again according to step 31, and reselecting, bythe second selecting subunit 3042, another group of M eREGs according tostep 32 until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair areselected.

The correspond-mapping subunit 3044 is configured to perform step 34,where step 34 is: grouping the L physical resource block pairs intofloor(L/M) physical resource block groups by putting every M physicalresource block pairs into one group, mapping the selected M eREGs ineach group onto M physical resource block pairs in each of thefloor(L/M) physical resource block groups respectively, and mapping eacheCCE in the L physical resource block pairs onto the M eREGsrespectively, where floor refers to rounding down. When the L value isnot divisible by the M value, remaining Q physical resource blocks and(M-Q) physical resource blocks selected from the L physical resourceblocks form a group of M physical resource blocks.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are distributed on L(L>1) physical resource blocks pairs, the L physical resource blockpairs have different overheads. The overheads of some physical resourceblock pairs of the L physical resource block pairs include a PBCH and aPSS/SSS, and the overheads of other physical resource block pairs do notinclude the PBCH or the PSS/SSS. The mapping unit is specificallyconfigured to map, according to steps 31 to 35, one eCCE in the at leastone eCCE onto P eREGs in the physical resource block pairs that includethe PBCH and the PSS/SSS and onto (M-P) eREGs in the physical resourceblock pairs that do not include the PBCH or the PSS/SSS until all theeREGs in the L physical resource block pairs are mapped onto.

Optionally, the mapping unit 303 may further include a calculatingsubunit and a mapping subunit.

The calculating subunit is configured to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pairs, of the M eREGsmapped from each eCCE; and the mapping subunit is configured to map eachof the eCCEs onto M eREGs corresponding to M eREG sequence numberscorresponding to the sequence numbers according to the sequence numbers.

The calculating subunit is configured to: when L=1, calculate a sequencenumber of the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingLoc_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then calculate the sequence numbers, inthe L=1 physical resource block pair, of the M eREGs corresponding toeach eCCE; when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th)eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingDis_eCCE_i-=(Loc_eCCE_t+p*K) mod N, and then calculate the sequencenumber of a corresponding physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, the sequence numbersof the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where Loc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K)mod N, t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . , L−1; or, when L>1,first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding tothe i^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=((t+j*K) mod N+p*K)mod N, and thencalculate the sequence number of a corresponding physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L,so as to calculate the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physicalresource block pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, wheret=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . , L−1; or, when L>1, first,calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and then calculate thesequence number of a corresponding physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREG correspondingto the i^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as tocalculate the sequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resourceblock pair, of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where N is thenumber of eREGs of each physical resource block pair, K is the number ofeCCEs of each physical resource block pair, M is the number of eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, i=0, 1, . . . , L*K−1, and j=0, 1, . . . ,M−1.

The calculating subunit is configured to calculate the sequence numberof the eCCE corresponding to the j^(th) eREG of each physical resourceblock pair by using Loc_eCCE_i=j mod K, where K is the number of eCCEsborne in each physical resource block pair, and j=0, 1, . . . , or K−1.

When the number L of configured physical resource block pairs is greaterthan the number M of eREGs mapped from each eCCE, it is only needed togroup the L configured physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) or(floor(L/M)+1) groups first by putting every M physical resource blockpairs into one group, where the number of physical resource block pairsincluded in each group is M or L−floor(L/M). In each group (at thistime, the number of physical resource block pairs in each group is L1=Mor L−floor(L/M)), the foregoing formula is applied respectively toobtain the eCCE-to-eREG mapping on all the L physical resource blockpairs. A sequence number w_(i) of a PRB pair in the i^(th) group, whichis obtained according to the foregoing formula, is operated according toa formula w=w_(i)+i*M to obtain a sequence number w of the PRB pair inall the L physical resource block pairs, where i=0, 1, . . . ,floor(L/M)−1 or floor(L/M).

For example, when L=16 and M=8, the L physical resource block pairs aregrouped into two groups first by putting every 8 physical resource blockpairs into one group. For example, the first 8 physical resource blockpairs form a first group, and the last 8 physical resource block pairsform a second group. In the first group, L=8 and M=8 are substitutedinto the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGs mapped from all eCCEs inthe first 8 physical resource block pairs and obtain sequence numbers w₁of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₁ is substituted into aformula w₁+0*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w of the PRB pairs in theL physical resource block pairs. Similarly, in the second group, L=8 andM=8 are substituted into the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGsmapped from all eCCEs in the last 8 physical resource block pairs andobtain sequence numbers w₂ of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; andw₂ is substituted into a formula w₂+1*8 to obtain the sequence numbers wof the PRB pairs in the L physical resource block pairs.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, the apparatusincludes a first processor 601.

The first processor 601 is configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, where L is aninteger greater than 0, and the control channel is formed by at leastone eCCE.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, first, the firstprocessor 601 determines the physical resource block pairs occupied bythe control channel. In the embodiment of the present invention, it isassumed that the control channel occupies L physical resource blockpairs. Meanwhile, the number of eCCEs that form the control channel canbe obtained according to an aggregation level of the control channel.The control channel is formed by at least one eCCE.

The first processor 601 is configured to group resource elements excepta demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs into N eREGs, and calculatethe number of valid resource elements except other overheads in eacheREG of the N eREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs, whereN is an integer greater than 0, and the other overheads include at leastone of the following: a CRS, a PDCCH, a PBCH, and a PSS/SSS, and mayinclude no CSI-RS.

Each physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsincludes several REs. The REs except the DMRS in each physical resourceblock pair are grouped into N groups, that is, form N eREGs, where N isan integer greater than 0.

The first processor 601 is further configured to map each of the eCCEsonto M eREGs according to the number of valid resource elements includedin each eREG of the N eREGs of each physical resource block pair, whereM is an integer greater than 0.

After the number of valid REs except the overhead in each eREG of the NeREGs of each physical resource block pair is calculated, each of theeCCEs may be mapped onto M eREGs according to the number of valid REsincluded in each eREG of the N eREGs of each of the physical resourceblock pairs, so that the difference between the numbers of validresource elements occupied by the eCCEs is not greater than 5.

Optionally, the first processor is specifically configured to group NeREGs in each of the physical resource block pairs into a first eREGgroup and a second eREG group according to the number of valid resourceelements included in the eREG, and map each eCCE onto M eREGs of thefirst eREG group and the second eREG group, where: in the M eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE, the first M/2 eREGs of the M eREGs are in the first eREGgroup, the number of valid resource elements included in each eREG ofthe first M/2 eREGs is a different value, the last M/2 eREGs of the MeREGs are in the second eREG group, and the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG of the last M/2 eREGs is a differentvalue.

The first processor is specifically configured to perform the followingsteps: numbering the N eREGs in each of the physical resource blockpairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGsin the N eREGs, where the number of valid resource elements included ineach eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t),and t is an integer greater than 0; step 12: selecting one eREGrespectively from each of the sets S¹, S^(t), S², S^(t-1) . . .sequentially until M eREGs are selected in total, and mapping one eCCEin the at least one eCCE onto M eREGs; and step 13: removing theselected eREGs from corresponding sets, reselecting M eREGs according tostep 12, and mapping another eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto thereselected M eREGs until all the N eREGs of the physical resource blockpair are mapped onto.

The first processor is specifically configured to number the N eREGs ineach of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, anduse S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number ofvalid resource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1,2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0;sort the S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i) into S¹, S², . .. , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascendingorder of sequence numbers of the eREGs; group the sorted N eREGs into pgroups by putting every M/2 eREGs into one group, where the k^(th) groupincludes a ((k−1)*M/2+1)^(th) eREG, a ((k−1)*M/2+2)^(th) eREG, . . . ,and a (k*M/2)^(th) eREG in a sorted sequence, where k=0, 1, . . . , p;and map the eCCEs onto the eREGs included in the x^(th) group and the(p−x)^(th) group, where x is any value in 0, 1, . . . , p.

The first processor 601 is further configured to send the eCCE by usingthe resource elements included in the eREG.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are on the samephysical resource block pair, the first processor 601 is furtherconfigured to perform step 21, where step 21 is: numbering the N eREGsin each of the physical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1,using S^(i) to denote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number ofvalid resource elements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1,2, . . . , t), D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0,and sorting the S^(i) in ascending order of D^(i) in the S^(i) into: S¹,S², . . . , S^(t), where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted inascending order of sequence numbers of the eREGs.

Here, it should be noted that in the L physical resource block pairs,each physical resource block pair has the same overhead, N eREGs in eachphysical resource block pair have the same sequence number, and theeREGs that have the same sequence number include the same number ofvalid REs. Therefore, in each physical resource block pair, N eREGs aresorted identically.

The first processor 601 is further configured to perform step 22, wherestep 22 is: according to the set sorting in step 21, expressing S¹ . . .S^(a) sorted out of the sets S¹ to S^(a) as a sequential set group, andexpressing S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to the setS^(t) as a reverse set group; and selecting a set S^(i) in thesequential set group and the reverse set group alternately andsequentially according to a value of i, selecting one eREG from one setS^(i) respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in the setS^(i) until M eREGs are selected, and mapping one eCCE in the at leastone eCCE onto the selected M eREGs, where a=t/2 when t is an evennumber, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number.

When M is greater than t, after selecting t eREGs from the sets S¹ toS^(t) according to step 22, the first processor removes the selectedeREGs, and still selects eREGs from the sets S¹ to S^(t) according tostep 22 until M eREGs are selected, and maps one eCCE in the at leastone eCCE onto the selected M eREGs.

The first processor 601 is further configured to perform step 23:removing the selected eREGs from corresponding sets, performing sortingagain and reselecting M eREGs according to step 21 and step 22, andmapping another eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto the reselected MeREGs until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pair aremapped onto.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are distributed on L(L>1) physical resource block pairs, if the L physical resource blockpairs have the same overhead, the first processor 601 is furtherconfigured to perform step 31: numbering the N eREGs in each of thephysical resource block pairs as 0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, using S^(i) todenote a set of eREGs in the N eREGs, where the number of valid resourceelements included in each eREG in the set is D^(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , t),D¹<D²< . . . <D^(t), and t is an integer greater than 0, and sorting theS^(i) in ascending order of the number D^(i) of valid resource elementsincluded in each eREG in the S^(i) into:

S ¹ ,S ² , . . . ,S ^(t),

where the eREGs in the set S^(i) are sorted in ascending order ofsequence numbers of the eREGs.

Here, it should be noted that in the L physical resource block pairs,each physical resource block pair has the same overhead, N eREGs in eachphysical resource block pair have the same sequence number, and theeREGs that have the same sequence number include the same number ofvalid REs. Therefore, in each physical resource block pair, N eREGs aresorted identically.

The first processor 601 is further configured to perform step 32, wherestep 32 is: according to the set sorting in step 31, expressing S¹ . . .S^(a) sorted out of the sets S^(i) to S^(a) as a sequential set group,and expressing S^(t) . . . S^(a+1) sorted out of the set S^(a+1) to theset S^(t) as a reverse set group; and selecting a set S^(i) in thesequential set group and the reverse set group alternately andsequentially according to a value of i, and selecting one eREG from oneset S^(i) respectively according to a sequence number of the eREG in theset S^(i) until a group of M eREGs are selected, where a=t/2 when t isan even number, and a=(t+1)/2 when t is an odd number.

After selecting t eREGs from the sets S¹ to S^(t) according to step 32when M is greater than t, the first processor removes the selectedeREGs, and still selects eREGs from the sets S¹ to S^(t) according tostep 32 until a group of M eREGs are selected.

The first processor 601 is further configured to perform step 33:removing the selected eREGs from corresponding sets, and performingsorting again and selecting another group of M eREGs according to step31 and step 32 until all the N eREGs of the physical resource block pairare selected.

After removing the selected M eREG sequence numbers from the sortedsequence S¹, S², . . . , S^(t), the first processor 601 still sorts theremaining eREGs according to the number of included valid REs and theeREG sequence number in the way described in step 31, and selects MeREGs according to step 32 until all the N eREGs in the physicalresource block pair are selected.

The first processor 601 is further configured to perform step 34:grouping the L physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) physicalresource block groups by putting every M physical resource block pairsinto one group, mapping the selected M eREGs in each group onto Mphysical resource block pairs in each of the floor(L/M) physicalresource block groups respectively, and mapping each eCCE in the Lphysical resource block pairs onto the M eREGs respectively, where floorrefers to rounding down. When the L value is not divisible by the Mvalue, the first processor 601 may combine remaining Q physical resourceblocks and (M-Q) physical resource blocks selected from the L physicalresource blocks to form a group of M physical resource blocks.

Optionally, when the M eREGs mapped from the eCCE are distributed on L(L>1) physical resource block pairs, if the L physical resource blockpairs have different overheads, where the overheads of some physicalresource block pairs of the L physical resource block pairs include aPBCH and a PSS/SSS, and the overheads of other physical resource blockpairs do not include the PBCH or the PSS/SSS, the first processor 601maps one eCCE in the at least one eCCE onto P eREGs in the physicalresource block pairs that include the PBCH and the PSS/SSS and onto(M-P) eREGs in the physical resource block pairs that do not include thePBCH or the PSS/SSS according to steps 31 to 35 until all the eREGs inthe L physical resource block pairs are mapped onto.

Optionally, the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements of thephysical resource block pair have sequence numbers; and the firstprocessor 601 is specifically configured to calculate the sequencenumbers, in the corresponding physical resource block pairs, of the MeREGs mapped from each eCCE; and map each of the eCCEs onto M eREGscorresponding to M eREG sequence numbers corresponding to the sequencenumbers according to the sequence numbers.

The first processor 601 is specifically configured to:

when L=1, calculate a sequence number of the j^(th) eREG correspondingto the i^(th) eCCE by using Loc_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N, and thencalculate the sequence numbers, in the L=1 physical resource block pair,of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE; or

when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingDis_eCCE_i_j=(Loc_eCCE_t_j+p*K) mod N, and then calculate the sequencenumber of a corresponding physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs that include the j^(th) eREG corresponding to thei^(th) eCCE by using R=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculatethe sequence numbers, in the corresponding physical resource block pair,of the M eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, where Loc_eCCE_t_j=(t+j*K)mod N, t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, . . . , or L−1; or

when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=((t+j*K) modN+p*K)mod N, and then calculate the sequence number of a correspondingphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs thatinclude the j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate, in the correspondingphysical resource block pair, the sequence numbers of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE, where t=floor(i/L), p=i mod L, and R=0, 1, .. . , or L−1; or

when L>1, first, calculate the sequence number of the j^(th) eREGcorresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by using Dis_eCCE_i_j=(i+j*K) mod N,and then calculate the sequence number of a corresponding physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs that includethe j^(th) eREG corresponding to the i^(th) eCCE by usingR=(floor(i/(M*K))*M+j) mod L, so as to calculate the sequence numbers,in the corresponding physical resource block pair, of the M eREGscorresponding to each eCCE,

where N is the number of eREGs of each physical resource block pair, Kis the number of eCCEs of each physical resource block pair, M is thenumber of eREGs corresponding to each eCCE, i is the sequence number ofthe eCCEs that form the control channel, i=0, 1, . . . , or L*K−1, and jis the sequence number of the eREGs included in the physical resourceblock pair, j=0, 1, . . . , or M−1.

When the number L of configured physical resource block pairs is greaterthan the number M of eREGs mapped from each eCCE, it is only needed togroup the L configured physical resource block pairs into floor(L/M) or(floor(L/M)+1) groups first by putting every M physical resource blockpairs into one group, where the number of physical resource block pairsincluded in each group is M or L−floor(L/M). In each group (at thistime, the number of physical resource block pairs in each group is L1=Mor L−floor(L/M)), the foregoing formula is applied respectively toobtain the eCCE-to-eREG mapping on all the L physical resource blockpairs. A sequence number w_(i) of a PRB pair in the i^(th) group, whichis obtained according to the foregoing formula, is operated according toa formula w=w_(i)+i*M to obtain a sequence number w of the PRB pair inall the L physical resource block pairs, where i=0, 1, . . . ,floor(L/M)−1 or floor(L/M).

For example, when L=16 and M=8, the L physical resource block pairs aregrouped into two groups first by putting every 8 physical resource blockpairs into one group. For example, the first 8 physical resource blockpairs form a first group, and the last 8 physical resource block pairsform a second group. In the first group, L=8 and M=8 are substitutedinto the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGs mapped from all eCCEs inthe first 8 physical resource block pairs and obtain sequence numbers w₁of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; and w₁ is substituted into aformula w_(i)+0*8 to obtain the sequence numbers w of the PRB pairs inthe L physical resource block pairs. Similarly, in the second group, L=8and M=8 are substituted into the foregoing formula to obtain the eREGsmapped from all eCCEs in the last 8 physical resource block pairs andobtain sequence numbers w₂ of corresponding PRB pairs in this group; andw₂ is substituted into a formula w₂+1*8 to obtain the sequence numbers wof the PRB pairs in the L physical resource block pairs.

In the control channel transmission method and apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention, a certain number of eREGs areselected to form an eCCE according to the number of valid REs except anoverhead in each eREG, which can keep a balance between actual sizes ofthe formed eCCEs, further ensure a performance balance when demodulatingeach eCCE, and reduce implementation complexity of a scheduler.

Embodiment 2

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission method. As shown in FIG. 7, the method includes thefollowing steps:

701. Determine L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmita control channel, and group resource elements except a demodulationreference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is aninteger greater than 0.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the physical resourceblock pairs occupied by the control channel need to be determined first,that is, it is determined that the control channel can be transmitted onthe L physical resource block pairs. Then the resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs are grouped into N eREGs,where L is an integer greater than 0.

702. Obtain, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,the number of eCCEs that form the control channel and sequence numbersof eREGs mapped from each eCCE.

According to the aggregation level of the control channel, the number ofeCCEs that form the control channel can be obtained, and the specificeREG sequence numbers included in each eCCE can be determined accordingto a fixed rule.

703. When L is greater than 1, number the eREGs differently in differentphysical resource block pairs of the L physical resource block pairs;or, when L is equal to 1, number the eREGs in the physical resourceblock pair differently according to different transmitting time pointsof the control channel.

If the eREGs mapped from the eCCE are distributed on L>1 physicalresource blocks, the control channel occupies L physical resource blockpairs, and the eREGs are numbered differently in different physicalresource block pairs of the L physical resource block pairs. Assumingthat each physical resource block pair includes N=8 eREGs, the eREGs inphysical resource block pair 1 may be numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and8; and, after undergoing a different shift, the eREGs in physicalresource block pair 2 are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 1, and soon. The eREGs are numbered differently in different physical resourceblock pairs. Optionally, the eREGs in different physical resource blockpairs of the L physical resource block pairs may be numbered in aninterleaved manner. For example, a resource element corresponding to theeREG numbered i in the first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs corresponds to an eREG numbered j in thep^(th) physical resource block pair, where j=(i+p*N−1) % N or j=(i+p) %N, and N is the number of eREGs in each physical resource block pair. Ina case where the sequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from each eCCE aredefinite, the eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers of the eREGsmapped from each eCCE are located in different locations in differentphysical resource block pairs, which makes the actual sizes of the eCCEsformed by the eREGs balanced.

Similarly, in a case where the eREGs mapped from the eCCE aredistributed on one physical resource block pair, the eREGs in thephysical resource block pair are numbered differently according todifferent transmitting time points of the control channel. For example,at the first transmitting time point of the control channel, the eREGsin the physical resource block pair are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,and 8; and, at the second transmitting time point of the controlchannel, the eREGs in the physical resource block pair are shiftedcyclically and numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 1. In this way, afterinterleaving or cyclic shift is performed, in a case where the eREGsequence numbers included in each eCCE are definite, a balance betweenthe actual sizes of the eCCEs formed by the eREGs can be ensured.

Optionally, the sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to the REsarranged sequentially on a frequency domain or a time domain in thephysical resource block pairs of different subframes or different slotsmay be obtained by performing a cyclic shift between them. For example,the sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to the REs arrangedsequentially on the frequency domain or the time domain in the physicalresource block pair of a first subframe or a first slot may be obtainedby performing a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the REs arranged sequentially on the frequency domainor the time domain in the physical resource block pair of a secondsubframe or a second slot.

In one aspect, in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of then^(th) eREG in a physical resource block pair corresponding to thef^(th) subframe or slot slot is:

K ^(f)(n)=((K+p)mod N),

where K^(f) (n) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to thefirst RE in the physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th)subframe or slot, K(n) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding toan RE corresponding to a first subframe or slot and located in the samelocation as the first RE on the time domain and the frequency domain,and p is a step length of the cyclic shift. Optionally, a currentsubframe number or slot number f may be used as the step length of thecyclic shift. The cyclic shift manner is also applicable to theeCCE-to-eREG mapping. For example, a mapping rule for mapping each eCCEonto the eREG includes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG ina physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being:

K ^(f)(n)=K((n+p)mod N),

where K^(f) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG correspondingto a first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in the f^(th)subframe or slot, K(n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREGcorresponding to the first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in afirst subframe or a first slot slot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is astep length of the cyclic shift.

Assuming that the step length of cyclic shift between two slots is 2,the following table shows a mapping template under an Extended CP whenp=2:

When the step length of the cyclic shift is p=2, a blank cell in thefollowing table represents a resource element occupied by a DMRS. Thefirst 6 columns show an eREG-to-RE mapping relationship in the physicalresource block pair in the first slot, and the last 6 columns in thetable show a mapping relationship in the second slot after a cyclicshift is performed for the eREG-to-RE mapping in the physical resourceblock pair at a step length of 2. Each cell in the table may be regardedas a resource occupied by each RE.

0 12 8 4 0  8 2 14 10 6 — — 1 13 9 5 — — 3 15 11 7 2 10 2 14 10 6 1  9 40 12 8 3 11 3 15 11 7 2 10 5 1 13 9 — — 4 0 12 8 — — 6 2 14 10 4 12 5 113 9 3 11 7 3 15 11 5 13 6 2 14 10 4 12 8 4 0 12 — — 7 3 15 11 — — 9 5 113 6 14 8 4 0 12 5 13 10 6 2 14 7 15 9 5 1 13 6 14 11 7 3 15 — — 10 6 214 — — 12 8 4 0 8  0 11 7 3 15 7 15 13 9 5 1 9  1

When the step length of the cyclic shift is p=i, a mapping templateunder an Extended CP is shown in the following Table 2. The first 6columns in the table show an eREG-to-RE mapping relationship in thephysical resource block pair in the first slot, and the last 6 columnsin the table show a mapping relationship in the second slot after acyclic shift is performed for the eREG-to-RE mapping in the physicalresource block pair at a step length of 1, as shown below:

0 12 8 4 0  8 1 13 9 5 — — 1 13 9 5 — — 2 14 10 6 1  9 2 14 10 6 1  9 315 11 7 2 10 3 15 11 7 2 10 4 0 12 8 — — 4 0 12 8 — — 5 1 13 9 3 11 5 113 9 3 11 6 2 14 10 4 12 6 2 14 10 4 12 7 3 15 11 — — 7 3 15 11 — — 8 40 12 5 13 8 4 0 12 5 13 9 5 1 13 6 14 9 5 1 13 6 14 10 6 2 14 — — 10 6 214 — — 11 7 3 15 7 15 11 7 3 15 7 15 12 8 4 0 8  0

Further, OFDM symbols occupied by the physical resource block pair ineach slot may be classified into a part that includes a DMRS and a partthat does not include the DMRS. In this case, a cyclic shift p1 and acyclic shift p2 may be performed for the two parts independently, wherep1 and p2 correspond to shift step lengths of the two partsrespectively.

Assuming that p1=2, the following table shows a cyclic shift templateunder an Extended CP when p1=1:

0 12 8 4 0  8 2 14 10 6 — — 1 13 9 5 — — 3 15 11 7 1  9 2 14 10 6 1  9 40 12 8 2 10 3 15 11 7 2 10 5 1 13 9 — — 4 0 12 8 — — 6 2 14 10 3 11 5 113 9 3 11 7 3 15 11 4 12 6 2 14 10 4 12 8 4 0 12 — — 7 3 15 11 — — 9 5 113 5 13 8 4 0 12 5 13 10 6 2 14 6 14 9 5 1 13 6 14 11 7 3 15 — — 10 6 214 — — 12 8 4 0 7 15 11 7 3 15 7 15 13 9 5 1 8  0

For a Normal CP, assuming that every 48 REs form a group for thefrequency domain first and the time domain later, the entire PRB pairmay correspond to 3 eREG-to-RE mappings consecutively. Cyclic shifts areperformed between the 3 mappings at a step length of p, or cyclic shiftsare performed for the second mapping and the third mapping at a steplength of p1 and a step length of p2 separately, where p, p1, p2=1, 2, .. . , 15. The following uses p1=1 and p2=2 as examples. After the cyclicshift, the template is shown below:

0 12 8 4 1 — — 9 5 2 14 10 — — 1 13 9 5 2 — — 10 6 3 15 11 — — 2 14 10 63 13 3 11 7 4 0 12 6 12 3 15 11 7 4 14 4 12 8 5 1 13 7 13 4 0 12 8 5 155 13 9 6 2 14 8 14 5 1 13 9 6 — — 14 10 7 3 15 — — 6 2 14 10 7 — — 15 118 4 0 — — 7 3 15 11 8 0 6 0 12 9 5 1 9 15 8 4 0 12 9 1 7 1 13 10 6 2 100 9 5 1 13 10 2 8 2 14 11 7 3 11 1 10 6 2 14 11 — — 3 15 12 8 4 — — 11 73 15 12 — — 4 0 13 9 5 — —

As can be seen from the foregoing tables, after the cyclic shifts, eacheREG is evenly scattered into the entire physical resource block pair,and therefore, the performance is more balanced between the eREGs, andthe eCCE mapped from the eREGs is more balanced.

704. Send the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREGscorresponding to the sequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

In this case, because the sequence numbers of the eREGs included in theeCCE are definite, but the eREGs have different sequence numbers indifferent PRB pairs or at different time points, the eCCEs that form thecontrol channel at different times are mapped to different eREGs, and aneffect of randomizing eCCE interference is achieved to some extent.

In an executable manner, L physical resource block pairs that are usedto transmit the control channel are determined, and resource elementsexcept a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resourceblock pair of the L physical resource block pairs are grouped into atleast one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0;

the eCCEs that form the control channel and the sequence numbers of theeREGs mapped from each eCCE are obtained according to an aggregationlevel of the control channel;

the eREGs are mapped onto the resource elements in the physical resourceblock pairs corresponding to different subframes or different slots; and

the eCCE is sent by using the resource elements included in the eREGscorresponding to the sequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

In one aspect, the mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in thephysical resource block pairs corresponding to different subframes ordifferent slots includes:

numbering the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in a physicalresource block corresponding to a first subframe or a first slot;

performing a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the first subframe or the first slot to obtain sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in aphysical resource block corresponding to a second subframe or a secondslot; and

mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the correspondingphysical resource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the second subframe or the second slot.

In one aspect, a rule for mapping the eREGs onto the resource elementsin the physical resource block pairs corresponding to differentsubframes or different slots includes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a first RE in a physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot slot being:

K^(f)=((K+p)mod N), where K^(f) is a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to the first RE in the physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot, K is a sequence number ofan eREG corresponding to an RE corresponding to a first subframe or slotand located in the same location as the first RE on a time domain and afrequency domain, and p is a step length of a cyclic shift.

In one aspect, the performing a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in the physicalresource block corresponding to the first subframe or the first slot toobtain sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resourceelements in a physical resource block corresponding to a second subframeor a second slot includes:

classifying resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the first slot or the first subframe into resourceelements used to transmit a DMRS and resource elements not used totransmit the DMRS, performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of aneREG corresponding to a resource element used to transmit the DMRS inthe physical resource block corresponding to the first slot or the firstsubframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to aresource element used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the second slot or the second subframe, andperforming a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREG correspondingto a resource element not used to transmit the DMRS in the physicalresource block corresponding to the first slot or the first subframe toobtain a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource elementnot used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the second slot or the second subframe.

In one aspect, a mapping rule for mapping each eCCE onto the eREGsincludes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG ina physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being:

K ^(f)(n)=K((n+p)mod N),

where K^(f) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG correspondingto a first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in the f^(th)subframe or slot, K(n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREGcorresponding to the first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in afirst subframe or a first slot slot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is astep length of the cyclic shift.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, the apparatusincludes a determining and grouping unit 801, an obtaining unit 802, anumbering unit 803, and a mapping sending unit 804.

The determining and grouping unit 801 is configured to determine Lphysical resource block pairs that are used to transmit a controlchannel, and group resource elements except a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is an integergreater than 0.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, first, the determiningunit 801 needs to determine the physical resource block pairs occupiedby the control channel, that is, determine that the control channel canbe transmitted on the L physical resource block pairs. Then the resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs are groupedinto at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0.

The obtaining unit 802 is configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs that formthe control channel and sequence numbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE.

According to the aggregation level of the control channel, the obtainingunit 802 can obtain the number of eCCEs that form the control channel,and determine the specific eREG sequence numbers included in each eCCEaccording to a fixed rule.

The numbering unit 803 is configured to: when L is greater than 1,number the eREGs differently in different physical resource block pairsof the L physical resource block pairs; or, when L is equal to 1, numberthe eREGs in the physical resource block pair differently according todifferent transmitting time points of the control channel.

If the eREGs mapped from the eCCE are distributed on L>1 physicalresource blocks, the numbering unit 803 may number the N eREGsdifferently in different physical resource block pairs of the L physicalresource block pairs. Assuming that each physical resource block pairincludes N=8 eREGs, the eREGs in physical resource block pair 1 may benumbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and, after undergoing a differentshift, the eREGs in physical resource block pair 2 are numbered 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, and 1, and so on. The eREGs are numbered differently indifferent physical resource block pairs. Optionally, the eREGs indifferent physical resource block pairs of the L physical resource blockpairs may be numbered in an interleaved manner. For example, a resourceelement corresponding to the eREG numbered i in the first physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs correspondsto an eREG numbered j in the p^(th) physical resource block pair, wherej=(i+p*N−1) % N, and N is the number of eREGs in each physical resourceblock pair. In a case where the sequence numbers of the eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE are definite, the eREGs corresponding to the sequencenumbers of the eREGs mapped from each eCCE are located in differentlocations in different physical resource block pairs, which makes theactual sizes of the eCCEs formed by the eREGs balanced.

L=1 is intended for a scenario in which the eREGs mapped from the eCCEare distributed on one physical resource block pair. The numbering unit803 may number the eREGs in the physical resource block pair differentlyaccording to different transmitting time points of the control channel.For example, at the first transmitting time point of the controlchannel, the eREGs in the physical resource block pair are numbered 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and, at the second transmitting time point ofthe control channel, the eREGs in the physical resource block pair areshifted cyclically and numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 1. In this way,after interleaving or cyclic shift is performed, in a case where thesequence numbers of the eREGs included in each eCCE are definite, abalance between the actual sizes of the eCCEs formed by the eREGs can beensured.

Optionally, the numbering unit 803 is further configured to in thef^(th) subframe or slot, number the n^(th) eREG in the physica^(l)resource block pair as K^(f) (n)=K ((n+p)mod N), where K^(f) (n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG in the physical resource block pairin the f^(th) sub^(fr)ame or slot, K(n) is the sequence number of then^(th) eREG in the physical resource block pair in a first sub^(fr)ameor slot, n=0, 1, . . . , N−1, and p is a step length of the cyclicshift. Optionally, the subframe or slot slot number is used as the steplength of the cyclic shift.

Further, the numbering unit 803 is further configured to classify thephysical resource block pairs in each slot into a part that includes aDMRS and a part that does not include the DMRS, and perform a cyclicshift for the eREG-to-resource element mapping in the two partsseparately.

The mapping sending unit 804 is configured to send the eCCE by using theresource elements included in the eREGs corresponding to the sequencenumbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

In this case, because the sequence numbers of the eREGs included in theeCCE are definite, but the eREGs have different sequence numbers indifferent PRBs or at different time points, the eCCEs that form thecontrol channel at different times are mapped to different eREGs, and aneffect of randomizing eCCE interference is achieved to some extent.

In one aspect, an apparatus is further provided:

A control channel transmission apparatus includes:

a second determining and grouping unit, configured to determine Lphysical resource block pairs that are used to transmit a controlchannel, and group resource elements except a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is an integergreater than 0;

a second obtaining unit, configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel and sequence numbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE;

a second mapping unit, configured to map the eREGs onto the resourceelements in the physical resource block pairs corresponding to differentsubframes or different slots; and

a second sending unit, configured to send the eCCE by using the resourceelements included in the eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The second mapping unit is configured to:

number the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in a physicalresource block corresponding to a first subframe or a first slot;

perform a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the first subframe or the first slot to obtain sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in aphysical resource block corresponding to a second subframe or a secondslot; and

map the eREGs onto the resource elements in the corresponding physicalresource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the second subframe or the second slot.

A rule for mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the physicalresource block pairs corresponding to different subframes or differentslots includes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a first RE in a physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot slot being:

K ^(f)=((K+p)mod N),

where K^(f) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to the firstRE in the physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th)subframe or slot, K is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to anRE corresponding to a first subframe or slot and located in the samelocation as the first RE on a time domain and a frequency domain, and pis a step length of a cyclic shift.

The second mapping unit is configured to:

classify resource elements in the physical resource block correspondingto the first slot or the first subframe into resource elements used totransmit a DMRS and resource elements not used to transmit the DMRS,perform a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREG corresponding toa resource element used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the first slot or the first subframe to obtain asequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource element used totransmit the DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to thesecond slot or the second subframe, and perform a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource element not usedto transmit the DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to thefirst slot or the first subframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a resource element not used to transmit the DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe; and

map the eREGs onto the resource elements in the corresponding physicalresource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements used to transmit a DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe, or map the eREGs onto the resource elements in thecorresponding physical resource block according to the sequence numbersof the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements not used to transmitthe DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to the second slotor the second subframe.

In one aspect, a mapping rule for mapping each eCCE onto the eREGsincludes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG ina physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being:

K ^(f)(n)=K((n+p)mod N),

where K^(f) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG correspondingto a first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in the f^(th)subframe or slot, K(n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREGcorresponding to the first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in afirst subframe or a first slot slot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is astep length of the cyclic shift.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 9, the apparatusincludes a second processor 901.

The second processor 901 is configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, first, the secondprocessor 901 needs to determine the physical resource block pairsoccupied by the control channel, that is, determine that the controlchannel can be transmitted on the L physical resource block pairs. Thenthe resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ineach physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsare grouped into at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than0.

The second processor 901 is further configured to obtain, according toan aggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs thatform the control channel and eREG sequence numbers mapped from eacheCCE.

According to the aggregation level of the control channel, the secondprocessor 901 can obtain the number of eCCEs that form the controlchannel, and determine the specific eREG sequence numbers included ineach eCCE according to a fixed rule.

The second processor 901 is further configured to: when L is greaterthan 1, number the eREGs differently in different physical resourceblock pairs of the L physical resource block pairs; or, when L is equalto 1, number the eREGs of the physical resource block pair differentlyaccording to different transmitting time points of the control channel.

The second processor 901 is further configured to in the f^(th) subframeor slot, number the n^(th) eREG in the physical resource block pair as:

K ^(f)(n)=K((n+p)mod N),

where K^(f) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG in thephysical resource block pair in the f^(th) subframe or slot, K(n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG in the physical resource block pairin a first subframe or slot, n=0, 1, . . . , N−1, and p is a step lengthof the cyclic shift. Optionally, the subframe or slot slot number isused as the step length of the cyclic shift.

Further, the second processor 901 is further configured to classify thephysical resource block pairs in each slot into a part that includes aDMRS and a part that does not include the DMRS, and perform a cyclicshift for the eREG-to-resource element mapping in the two partsseparately.

The second processor 901 is further configured to send the eCCE by usingthe resource elements included in the eREGs corresponding to thesequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

In this case, because the sequence numbers of the eREGs included in theeCCE are definite, but the eREGs have different sequence numbers indifferent PRBs or at different time points, the eCCEs that form thecontrol channel at different times are mapped to different eREGs, and aneffect of randomizing eCCE interference is achieved to some extent.

A control channel transmission apparatus includes:

a sixth processor, configured to determine L physical resource blockpairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and group resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs into at leastone eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0, where

the sixth processor is further configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel and sequence numbers of eREGs mapped from each eCCE; and

the sixth processor is further configured to map the eREGs onto theresource elements in the physical resource block pairs corresponding todifferent subframes or different slots; and

a third transmitter, configured to send the eCCE by using the resourceelements included in the eREGs corresponding to the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The sixth processor is configured to:

number the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in a physicalresource block corresponding to a first subframe or a first slot;

perform a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the first subframe or the first slot to obtain sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements in aphysical resource block corresponding to a second subframe or a secondslot; and

map the eREGs onto the resource elements in the corresponding physicalresource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements in the physical resource blockcorresponding to the second subframe or the second slot.

A rule for mapping the eREGs onto the resource elements in the physicalresource block pairs corresponding to different subframes or differentslots includes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a first RE in a physical resource block paircorresponding to the f^(th) subframe or slot slot being:

K ^(f)=((K+p)mod N),

where K^(f) is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to the firstRE in the physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th)subframe or slot, K is a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to anRE corresponding to a first subframe or slot and located in the samelocation as the first RE on a time domain and a frequency domain, and pis a step length of a cyclic shift.

The sixth processor is configured to:

classify resource elements in the physical resource block correspondingto the first slot or the first subframe into resource elements used totransmit a DMRS and resource elements not used to transmit the DMRS,perform a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREG corresponding toa resource element used to transmit the DMRS in the physical resourceblock corresponding to the first slot or the first subframe to obtain asequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource element used totransmit the DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to thesecond slot or the second subframe, and perform a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to a resource element not usedto transmit the DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to thefirst slot or the first subframe to obtain a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to a resource element not used to transmit the DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe; and

map the eREGs onto the resource elements in the corresponding physicalresource block according to the sequence numbers of the eREGscorresponding to the resource elements used to transmit a DMRS in thephysical resource block corresponding to the second slot or the secondsubframe, or map the eREGs onto the resource elements in thecorresponding physical resource block according to the sequence numbersof the eREGs corresponding to the resource elements not used to transmitthe DMRS in the physical resource block corresponding to the second slotor the second subframe.

A mapping rule for mapping each eCCE onto the eREGs includes:

in the f^(th) subframe or slot, a sequence number of the n^(th) eREG ina physical resource block pair corresponding to the f^(th) subframe orslot slot being:

K ^(f)(n)=K((n+p)mod N),

where K^(f) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG correspondingto a first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in the f^(th)subframe or slot, K(n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREGcorresponding to the first eCCE in the physical resource block pair in afirst subframe or a first slot slot, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p is astep length of the cyclic shift.

In the control channel transmission method and apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention, after the sequence numbers ofthe eREGs that form each eCCE are determined, the eREGs between thephysical resource block pairs are numbered differently; or, the eREGs ofeach of the physical resource block pairs are numbered differently atdifferent transmitting time points of the control channel, which cankeep a balance between actual sizes of the formed eCCEs and furtherensure a performance balance between the eCCEs. In addition, because theeREGs in different physical resource block pairs are numbereddifferently, an effect of randomizing eCCE interference is achieved tosome extent.

Embodiment 3

The embodiment of the present invention provides a control channeltransmission method. As shown in FIG. 10, the method includes thefollowing steps:

1001. Determine L physical resource block pairs that are used totransmit a control channel, and group resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs into at least one eREG,where L is an integer greater than 1.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the physical resourceblock pairs occupied by the control channel need to be determined first,that is, it is determined that the control channel can be transmitted onthe L physical resource block pairs. Then the resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs are grouped into N eREGs,where L is an integer greater than 0.

An eREG may serve as a minimum unit of an enhanced physical downlinkcontrol channel under a centralized transmission manner and a discretetransmission manner. Each physical resource block pair is fixedlygrouped into 16 eREGs, where the 16 eREGs are numbered 0 to 15consecutively.

1002. Obtain, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,eCCEs that form the control channel, and map the eCCEs onto the eREG,where REs included in the eREG mapped from the eCCEs are located in thesame locations on a time domain and a frequency domain in thecorresponding physical resource block pairs; and map the eREG onto acorresponding resource element in the L physical resource block pairs,where a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a secondphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs isobtained by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs.

The eCCEs that form the control channel can be obtained according to anaggregation level of the control channel, and each eCCE is mapped onto atotal of M eREGs located in the same locations in the L PRBs.

After the cyclic shift is performed for the 4 physical resource blockpairs, each eCCE corresponds to the eREGs in the same locations indifferent physical resource block pairs respectively. For example, whenthe step length p=4, the first eCCE corresponds to eREGs 0, 4, 8, and 12in the 4 physical resource block pairs in turn (the eREGs in the firstlocation in each physical resource block pair). Specific mappingrelationships of the eREGs mapped from each eCCE are shown below:

eCCE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 0 1 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 150 1 2 3 4 5 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 sequence number in PRB pair#4

Alternatively, the eCCEs are numbered in the following way. That is, theN eREGs that form each Localized eCCE are put into one group, and thenalternate selection is made from the configured physical resource blockpairs. Therefore, the specific mapping relationships of the eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE are shown in the following table:

eCCE 0 4 8 12 1 5 9 13 2 6 10 14 3 7 11 15 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 12 1314 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#4

Similarly, when L=2, 8, 16, the mapping relationships are shown belowrespectively:

When L=2, the eCCE corresponding to 2 physical resource block pairs isformed by the following eREGs:

eCCE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2or:

eCCE 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#2

Likewise, alternatively, the eCCEs may also be numbered in the followingway. That is, the N eREGs that form the Localized eCCE are put into onegroup, and then alternate selection is made from the configured physicalresource block pairs. Therefore, the specific mapping relationships ofthe eREGs mapped from each eCCE are shown in the following table:

eCCE 0 2 4 6 0 2 4 6 1 3 5 7 1 3 5 7 index PRB 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 pair#1 PRB 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 pair#2or

eCCE 0 2 4 6 1 3 5 7 0 2 4 6 1 3 5 7 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2

When L=8, the eREGs mapped from the eCCE corresponding to 8 physicalresource block pairs are shown in the following table:

eCCE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 12 1314 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#4 eREG 16 1718 19 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 sequence number in eCCE indexeREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#5eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#6eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#7eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#8

Likewise, the eCCEs may also be numbered in the following way, andtherefore, the specific mapping relationships of the eREGs mapped fromeach eCCE are shown in the following table:

eCCE 0 4 8 12 1 5 9 13 2 6 10 14 3 7 11 15 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 12 1314 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#4 eREG 16 3024 28 17 21 25 29 18 22 26 30 19 23 27 31 sequence number in eCCE indexeREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#5eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#6eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#7eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#8

When L=16, the eCCE corresponding to 16 physical resource block pairs isformed by the following eREGs:

eCCE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 12 1314 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#4 eCCE 16 1718 19 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#5 eREG 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#6 eREG 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#7 eREG 12 13 1415 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#8 eCCE index 3233 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#9 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#10 eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 1415 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#11 eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#12 eCCE index 48 49 5051 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#13 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1415 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#14 eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 12 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#15 eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#16

Likewise, the eCCEs may also be numbered in the following way, andtherefore, the specific mapping relationships of the eREGs mapped fromeach eCCE are shown in the following table:

eCCE 0 4 8 12 1 5 9 13 2 6 10 14 3 7 11 15 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 12 1314 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#4 eCCE 16 3024 28 17 21 25 29 18 22 26 30 19 23 27 31 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#5 eREG 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#6 eREG 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number in PRB pair#7 eREG 12 13 1415 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence number in PRB pair#8 eREG 32 36 4044 33 37 41 45 34 38 42 46 35 39 43 47 sequence number in eCCE indexeREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#9eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRBpair#10 eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence number inPRB pair#11 eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequence numberin PRB pair#12 eCCE index 48 52 56 60 49 53 57 61 50 54 58 62 51 55 5963 eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRBpair#13 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number inPRB pair#14 eREG 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sequence numberin PRB pair#15 eREG 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 sequencenumber in PRB pair#16

Further, when the eCCE is mapped onto p (p>1) eREGs in each physicalresource block pair, the cyclic shift is performed for the physicalresource block pair respectively at a step length of p. The differencebetween the sequence numbers of the p eREGs mapped from each eCCE andlocated in each physical resource block pair is p*L. For example, whenp=2, the cyclic shift is performed at a step length of 2 between the 4physical resource block pairs respectively, that is, each physicalresource block pair is shifted cyclically against the previous physicalresource block pair at a step length of 2. Ultimately, the first eCCEcorresponds to the eREGs 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 in the 4 physicalresource block pairs (the eREGs located in the first location and theninth location of each physical resource block pair). The eREGs mappedfrom each eCCE are shown below:

eCCE 0 4 1 5 2 6 3 7 0 4 1 5 2 6 3 7 sequence number eREG 0 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 sequence number in PRB pair#1 eREG 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 sequence number in PRB pair#2 eREG 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 sequence number in PRB pair#3 eREG 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 0 1 2 3 4 5 sequence number in PRB pair#4

Sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to the REs arranged incertain order on a frequency domain and a time domain in a secondphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs areobtained by performing a cyclic shift for the sequence numbers of theeREGs corresponding to the REs arranged in certain order on thefrequency domain and the time domain in a first physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs.

A cyclic shift is performed at a step length of p for the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the REs arranged in certain orderon the frequency domain or the time domain between the L physicalresource block pairs, that is, the eREG-to-RE mapping on each physicalresource block pair is shifted cyclically by p steps against the firstphysical resource block pair. The L physical resource blocks pairs arenumbered. Assuming that each eREG in the first physical resource blockpair is numbered K(i), the eREG corresponding to each RE of the m^(th)physical resource block pair is numbered K^(m) (n)=K ((n+m*p)mod N),where K^(m) (n) represents the sequence number of the eREG correspondingto the n^(th) RE on the m^(th) physical resource block pair, K(n)represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the n^(th)REon the first physical resource block pair, and n=0, 1, . . . , N−1. N isa total number of eREGs in each physical resource block pair.

Optionally, p=1, 2, 3, . . . , 15. For example, when p=4 and L=4, thecyclic shift is as follows:

The sequence numbers of the eREGs corresponding to the REs on the firstphysical resource block pair are illustrated in FIG. 19.

After a cyclic shift is performed at a step length of p=4, the sequencenumbers of the eREGs corresponding to the REs on the m^(th) physicalresource block pair are illustrated in FIG. 20.

By analogy, the cyclic shift at a step length of p=4 of the other twophysical resource block pairs can be obtained.

1004. Send the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREGmapped from the eCCE.

In this embodiment, in one aspect, L physical resource block pairs thatare used to transmit a control channel are determined, and resourceelements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs are groupedinto at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 1; the eCCEsthat form the control channel are obtained according to an aggregationlevel of the control channel, and the eCCEs are mapped onto the eREG,where REs included in the eREG mapped from the eCCEs are located in thesame locations on a time domain and a frequency domain in thecorresponding physical resource block pairs; and the eREG is mapped ontoa corresponding resource element in the L physical resource block pairs,where a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a secondphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs isobtained by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs; and the eCCE is sent by using theresource elements included in the eREG mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of asecond physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs includes: numbering the L physicalresource block pairs, and performing a cyclic shift at a step length ofp for the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is:

K ^(m)=(K ₀ +m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) (n) represents the sequence number of the eREG correspondingto the first RE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, and K₀(n)represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to an RElocated in the same location as the first RE on the time domain and thefrequency domain in the first physical resource block pair.

A mapping rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs includes:

K ^(m)(n)=K ₀((n+m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG correspondingto a first eCCE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, K₀(n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to the first eCCE inthe first physical resource block pair, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p isthe step length of the cyclic shift.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 11, the apparatusincludes a third determining unit 1101, a mapping unit 1102, and asending unit 1103.

The third determining unit 1101 is configured to determine L physicalresource block pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, andgroup resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ineach physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsinto at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 1.

The mapping unit 1102 is configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel, and map the eCCEs onto the eREG, where REs included in the eREGmapped from the eCCEs are located in the same locations on a time domainand a frequency domain in the corresponding physical resource blockpairs; and map the eREG onto a corresponding resource element in the Lphysical resource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a second physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs is obtained by performing a cyclic shiftfor a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a firstphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs.

The sending unit 1103 is configured to send the eCCE by using theresource elements included in the eREG mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of asecond physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs includes: numbering the L physicalresource block pairs, and performing a cyclic shift at a step length ofp for the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is:

K ^(m)=(K ₀ +m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) (n) represents the sequence number of the eREG correspondingto the first RE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, and K₀(n)represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to an RElocated in the same location as the first RE on the time domain and thefrequency domain in the first physical resource block pair.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 12, the apparatusincludes: a fourth processor 1201, configured to determine L physicalresource block pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, andgroup resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ineach physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsinto at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 1, where thefourth processor 1201 is further configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel, and map the eCCEs onto the eREG, where REs included in the eREGmapped from the eCCEs are located in the same locations on a time domainand a frequency domain in the corresponding physical resource blockpairs; and map the eREG onto a corresponding resource element in the Lphysical resource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a second physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs is obtained by performing a cyclic shiftfor a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a firstphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs; anda third transmitter 1202, configured to send the eCCE by using theresource elements included in the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The fourth processor is specifically configured to number the L physicalresource block pairs, and perform a cyclic shift at a step length of pfor the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is:

K ^(m)=(K ₀ +m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding tothe first RE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, and K⁰represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to an RElocated in the same location as the first RE on the time domain and thefrequency domain in the first physical resource block pair.

Embodiment 4

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission method. As shown in FIG. 13, the method includesthe following steps:

1301. Determine L physical resource block pairs that are used totransmit a control channel, and group resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs into N eREGs, where L is aninteger greater than 0.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the physical resourceblock pairs occupied by the control channel need to be determined first,that is, it is determined that the control channel can be transmitted onthe L physical resource block pairs. Then the resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs are grouped into N eREGs,where L is an integer greater than 0.

1302. Obtain, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,the number of eCCEs that form the control channel and eREGs mapped fromeach eCCE, where a rule for determining the eREGs mapped from each eCCEis related to a cell ID or a user equipment UE ID.

That a rule for determining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is relatedto a cell ID or a user equipment UE ID includes: that the rule fordetermining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is cell-specific or userequipment-specific.

The cell may be a virtual cell or a physical cell or a carrier.

The determining rule is a function related to a cell ID or a userequipment ID, and the function satisfies the following formula:

${{R(i)} = {{\left( {{\frac{n_{s}}{2} \star 2^{9}} + N_{ID}} \right)\mspace{11mu} {mod}\mspace{14mu} N} + {R_{0}(i)}}},$

where n_(s) is a slot number, N is the number of eREGs in each physicalresource block pair, R⁰(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREGincluded in a reference eCEE in a set reference physical resource blockpair, R(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from acorresponding eCCE in a physical resource block pair corresponding tothe cell or the UE, and N_(ID) is a parameter corresponding to the cellor the UE. Here, the rule for determining the eREGs included in the eCCEcorresponding to each cell or user differs. In this way, an effect ofrandomizing interference between cells or users can be achieved. Inother words, the determining rule is a cell-specific or userequipment-specific function.

Optionally, the determining rule is a cell- or user-specific function,and the function satisfies the following formula:

eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N)

where, eREG_(t)(i) is the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped fromthe eCCE corresponding to the cell or UE, eREG(i) is the sequence numberof the i^(th) eREG mapped from each eCCE before the cyclic shift or eacheCCE of the first cell or user, and N is the number of eREGs included ineach physical resource block pair. X is a parameter related to a virtualcell or a physical cell or a carrier. For example, X is a virtual cellID and the value of X is the same as a value of X in a DMRS scramblingsequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH or is configured by using RRCsignaling or dynamic signaling. N is the number of eREGs included ineach physical resource block pair. Here, the rule for determining theeREGs included in the eCCE corresponding to each cell or user differs.In this way, an effect of randomizing interference between cells orusers can be achieved.

In another aspect, the determining rule is: eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N)where, eREG_(t)(i) is the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped froma first eCCE corresponding to the first cell or the first UE, eREG(i) isthe sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from a second eCCE of thefirst one of the cell or user equipment corresponding to a second cellor a second UE, X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physicalcell or a carrier, i=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and N is the number of eREGsincluded in each physical resource block pair.

1303. Send the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 14, the apparatusincludes a determining and grouping unit 1401, an obtaining unit 1402,and a sending unit 1403.

The determining and grouping unit 1401 is configured to determine Lphysical resource block pairs that are used to transmit a controlchannel, and group resource elements except a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is an integergreater than 0.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, first, the determiningand grouping unit 1401 needs to determine the physical resource blockpairs occupied by the control channel, that is, determine that thecontrol channel can be transmitted on the L physical resource blockpairs. Then the resource elements except a demodulation reference signal(DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the L physical resourceblock pairs are grouped into N eREGs, where L is an integer greater than0.

The obtaining unit 1402 is configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs that formthe control channel and eREGs mapped from each eCCE, where a rule fordetermining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is related to a cell ID or auser equipment UE ID.

The determining rule is a function related to a cell ID or a user ID,and the function satisfies the following formula:

${{R(i)} = {{\left( {{\frac{n_{s}}{2} \star 2^{9}} + N_{ID}} \right)\mspace{11mu} {mod}\mspace{14mu} N} + {R_{0}(i)}}},$

where n_(s) is a slot number, N is the number of eREGs in each physicalresource block pair, R⁰(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREGincluded in a reference eCEE in a set reference physical resource blockpair, R(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from acorresponding eCCE in a physical resource block pair corresponding tothe cell or the UE, and N_(ID) is a parameter corresponding to the cellor the UE. Here, the rule for determining the eREGs included in the eCCEcorresponding to each cell or user differs. In this way, an effect ofrandomizing interference between cells or users can be achieved.

Optionally, the determining rule is a cell- or user-specific function,and the function may also satisfy the following formula:

eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N)

where, eREG_(t)(i) is the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped fromthe eCCE corresponding to the cell or UE, eREG(i) is the sequence numberof the i^(th) eREG mapped from each eCCE before the cyclic shift or eacheCCE of the first cell or user, and N is the number of eREGs included ineach physical resource block pair. X is a parameter related to a virtualcell or a physical cell or a carrier. For example, X is a virtual cellID and the value of X is the same as a value of X in a DMRS scramblingsequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH or is configured by using RRCsignaling or dynamic signaling. N is the number of eREGs included ineach physical resource block pair. Here, the rule for determining theeREGs included in the eCCE corresponding to each cell or user differs.In this way, an effect of randomizing interference between cells orusers can be achieved.

In one aspect, the determining rule is:

eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N)

where, eREG_(t)(i) is the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped froma first eCCE corresponding to the first cell or the first UE, eREG(i) isthe sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from a second eCCE of thefirst one of the cell or user equipment corresponding to a second cellor a second UE, X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physicalcell or a carrier, for example, X is a virtual cell ID and the value ofX is the same as a value of X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator ofan ePDCCH or a PDSCH, i=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and N is the number ofeREGs included in each physical resource block pair.

The sending unit 1403 is further configured to send the eCCE by usingthe resource elements included in the eREG.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controlchannel transmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 15, the apparatusincludes: a third processor 1501, configured to determine L physicalresource block pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, andgroup resource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ineach physical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairsinto at least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0, where thethird processor 1501 is further configured to obtain, according to anaggregation level of the control channel, the number of eCCEs that formthe control channel and eREGs mapped from each eCCE, where a rule fordetermining the eREGs mapped from each eCCE is related to a cell ID or auser equipment UE ID; and a fifth transmitter 1502, configured to sendthe eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG.

The cell may be an actual physical cell, or a virtual cell or carrierconfigured in a system.

The determining rule is a cell-specific or user equipment-specificfunction, and the function satisfies the following formula:

${{R(i)} = {{\left( {{\frac{n_{s}}{2} \star 2^{9}} + N_{ID}} \right)\mspace{11mu} {mod}\mspace{14mu} N} + {R_{0}(i)}}},$

where n_(s) is a slot number, N is the number of eREGs in each physicalresource block pair, R⁰(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREGincluded in a reference eCEE in a set reference physical resource blockpair, R(i) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from acorresponding eCCE in a physical resource block pair corresponding tothe cell or the UE, and N_(ID) is a parameter corresponding to the cellor the UE.

The determining rule is:

eREG_(t)(i)=eREG((i+X)mod N)

where, eREG_(t)(i) is the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped froma first eCCE corresponding to the first cell or the first UE, eREG(i) isthe sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from a second eCCE of thefirst one of the cell or user equipment corresponding to a second cellor a second UE, X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physicalcell or a carrier, i=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, for example, X is a virtualcell ID and the value of X is the same as a value of X in a DMRSscrambling sequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH. N is the numberof eREGs included in each physical resource block pair.

In the control channel transmission method and apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention, a different rule according to acell or user is used to form an eCCE, thereby accomplishing an effect ofrandomizing interference between cells or users.

Embodiment 5

The embodiment of the present invention provides a control channeltransmission method. As shown in FIG. 16, the method includes thefollowing steps:

1601. Determine L physical resource block pairs that are used totransmit a control channel, and group resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs into at least one eREG,where L is an integer greater than 0.

When data is transmitted on a control channel, the physical resourceblock pairs occupied by the control channel need to be determined first,that is, it is determined that the control channel can be transmitted onthe L physical resource block pairs. Then the resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs are grouped into N eREGs,where L is an integer greater than 0.

1602. Obtain, according to an aggregation level of the control channel,eCCEs that form the control channel, map the eCCEs onto the eREG, andmap the eREG onto corresponding resource elements in the L physicalresource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREG correspondingto an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs of the first transmission node is obtained byperforming a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREG correspondingto an RE of a first physical resource block pair in physical resourceblock pairs of a second transmission node.

The number of eCCEs that form the control channel and eREG sequencenumbers mapped from each eCCE can be obtained according to anaggregation level of the control channel.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of afirst physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs of the first transmission node by performing a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair in physical resource block pairs of a secondtransmission node includes: determining the sequence number of the eREGcorresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair of thephysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node by usingthe following formula:

K ^(t)=(K+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the REin the first physical resource block pair of the first transmissionnode, K is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE inthe first physical resource block pair of the second transmission node,X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or acarrier, and N is the number of eREGs included in each physical resourceblock pair. For example, X is a virtual cell ID and the value of X isthe same as a value of X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of anePDCCH or a PDSCH or is configured by using RRC signaling or dynamicsignaling. In this way, the sequence number of the i^(th) eREG of thet^(th) node is the sequence number of the ((i+X)mod N)^(th) eREG of thefirst transmission node, and the eREGs corresponding to the eCCE arenumbered identically on different transmission nodes but are locateddifferently on the PRB pair, which makes the actual sizes of the eCCEsformed by the eREGs balanced.

1603. Send the eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREGscorresponding to the sequence numbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

According to one aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, acontrol channel transmission method is provided and includes:determining L physical resource block pairs that are used to transmit acontrol channel, and grouping resource elements except a demodulationreference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs into at least one eREG, where L is aninteger greater than 1; obtaining, according to an aggregation level ofthe control channel, eCCEs that form the control channel, and mappingthe eCCEs onto the eREG, where REs included in the eREG mapped from theeCCEs are located in the same locations on a time domain and a frequencydomain in the corresponding physical resource block pairs; and mappingthe eREG onto a corresponding resource element in the L physicalresource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREG correspondingto an RE of a second physical resource block pair of the L physicalresource block pairs is obtained by performing a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs; and sendingthe eCCE by using the resource elements included in the eREG mapped fromthe eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of asecond physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs by performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs includes: numbering the L physicalresource block pairs, and performing a cyclic shift at a step length ofp for the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE of them^(th) physical resource block pair against the sequence number of theeREG corresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair,where the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE in them^(th) physical resource block pair is:

K ^(m)=(K ₀ +m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding tothe first RE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, and K⁰represents the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to an RElocated in the same location as the first RE on the time domain and thefrequency domain in the first physical resource block pair.

A mapping rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs includes:

K ^(m)(n)=K ₀((n+m*p)mod N),

where K^(m) (n) is the sequence number of the n^(th) eREG correspondingto a first eCCE in the m^(th) physical resource block pair, K₀(n) is thesequence number of the n^(th) eREG corresponding to the first eCCE inthe first physical resource block pair, n=0, 1, . . . , or N−1, and p isthe step length of the cyclic shift.

In this case, because the sequence numbers of the eREGs included in theeCCE are definite, but the eREGs have different sequence numbers ondifferent transmission nodes, the eCCEs that form the control channel atdifferent times are mapped to different eREGs, and an effect ofrandomizing eCCE interference is achieved to some extent.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a control channeltransmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 17, the apparatus includes adetermining unit 1701, an obtaining unit 1702, a cyclic shift unit 1703,and a sending unit 1704.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a control channeltransmission apparatus is provided and includes: a determining unit1701, configured to determine L physical resource block pairs that areused to transmit a control channel, and group resource elements except ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the L physical resource block pairs into at least one eREG,where L is an integer greater than 0; an obtaining and mapping unit1702, configured to obtain, according to an aggregation level of thecontrol channel, eCCEs that form the control channel, map the eCCEs ontothe eREG, and map the eREG onto corresponding resource elements in the Lphysical resource block pairs, where a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair of the Lphysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node is obtainedby performing a cyclic shift for a sequence number of an eREGcorresponding to an RE of a first physical resource block pair inphysical resource block pairs of a second transmission node; and asending unit 1703, configured to send the eCCE by using the resourceelements included in the eREG mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of afirst physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs of the first transmission node by performing a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair in physical resource block pairs of a secondtransmission node includes: determining the sequence number of the eREGcorresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair of thephysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node by usingthe following formula:

K ^(t)=(K+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the REin the first physical resource block pair of the first transmissionnode, K is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE inthe first physical resource block pair of the second transmission node,X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or acarrier, for example, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is thesame as a value of X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of anePDCCH or a PDSCH, and N is the number of eREGs included in eachphysical resource block pair.

A rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs is determined by thefollowing rule: determining, by using the following formula, a sequencenumber of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of the control channeltransmitted by the first transmission node:

K ^(t)(i)=K(i+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from theeCCE of the control channel transmitted by the first transmission node,K is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of thecontrol channel transmitted by the second transmission node, X is aparameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or a carrier, forexample, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is the same as a valueof X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH, Nis the number of eREGs in each physical resource block pair, and i=0, 1,. . . , or N−1.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a control channeltransmission apparatus. As shown in FIG. 18, the apparatus includes afifth processor 1801 and a sixth transmitte 1802.

The fifth processor 1801 is configured to determine L physical resourceblock pairs that are used to transmit a control channel, and groupresource elements except a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs intoat least one eREG, where L is an integer greater than 0.

The fifth processor 1801 is further configured to obtain, according toan aggregation level of the control channel, eCCEs that form the controlchannel, map the eCCEs onto the eREG, and map the eREG ontocorresponding resource elements in the L physical resource block pairs,where a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a firstphysical resource block pair of the L physical resource block pairs ofthe first transmission node is obtained by performing a cyclic shift fora sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair in physical resource block pairs of a secondtransmission node.

The sixth transmitter 1802 is configured to send the eCCE by using theresource elements included in the eREGs corresponding to the sequencenumbers of the eREGs mapped from the eCCE.

The obtaining a sequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of afirst physical resource block pair of the L physical resource blockpairs of the first transmission node by performing a cyclic shift for asequence number of an eREG corresponding to an RE of a first physicalresource block pair in physical resource block pairs of a secondtransmission node includes: determining the sequence number of the eREGcorresponding to the RE of the first physical resource block pair of thephysical resource block pairs of the first transmission node by usingthe following formula:

K ^(t)=(K+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the REin the first physical resource block pair of the first transmissionnode, K is the sequence number of the eREG corresponding to the RE inthe first physical resource block pair of the second transmission node,X is a parameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or acarrier, for example, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is thesame as a value of X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of anePDCCH or a PDSCH, and N is the number of eREGs included in eachphysical resource block pair.

A rule for mapping the eCCE onto the eREGs is determined by thefollowing rule: determining, by using the following formula, a sequencenumber of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of the control channeltransmitted by the first transmission node:

K ^(t)(i)=K(i+X)mod N

where, K^(t) is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from theeCCE of the control channel transmitted by the first transmission node,K is a sequence number of the i^(th) eREG mapped from the eCCE of thecontrol channel transmitted by the second transmission node, X is aparameter related to a virtual cell or a physical cell or a carrier, forexample, X is a virtual cell ID and a value of X is the same as a valueof X in a DMRS scrambling sequence generator of an ePDCCH or a PDSCH, Nis the number of eREGs in each physical resource block pair, and i=0, 1,. . . , or N−1.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mapping from the eREGsnumbered identically to the REs undergoes a cyclic shift betweendifferent transmission nodes. Therefore, the eREGs corresponding to theeCCE are numbered identically on different transmission nodes but arelocated differently on the PRB, which makes the actual sizes of theeCCEs formed by the eREGs balanced.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or a partof the steps of the foregoing method embodiments may be implemented by aprogram instructing relevant hardware. The foregoing program may bestored in a computer readable storage medium. When the program runs, thesteps of the foregoing method embodiments are performed. The foregoingstorage medium includes various mediums capable of storing program code,such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific embodiments of thepresent invention, but are not intended to limit the protection scope ofthe present invention. Any variation or replacement readily figured outby a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed inthe present invention shall fall within the protection scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the presentinvention shall be subject to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A channel transmission method comprising:determining at least one physical resource block pairs for transmittinga control channel, which is formed by at least one enhanced ControlChannel Element (eCCE); wherein resource elements except the resourceelements to be used for a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the at least one physical resource blockpair, comprise at least one enhanced Resource Element Group (eREG);mapping each eCCE of the at least one eCCE onto at least one eREGaccording to a number of valid resource elements comprised in each eREGof at least one eREG; and sending the at least one eCCE by using theresource elements comprised in the eREG; wherein each eREG of the atleast one eREG in each of the at least one physical resource block pairexcepting other overheads, comprises valid resource elements; and theother overheads comprise at least one of the following: a commonreference signal (CRS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH), a positioning reference signal (PRS),a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS).
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mappingmakes a difference not greater than 5, wherein the difference is adifference between the numbers of valid resource elements occupied bytwo of the eCCEs.
 3. A channel transmission method comprising:determining at least one physical resource block pairs for transmittinga control channel, which is formed by at least one enhanced ControlChannel Element (eCCE); wherein resource elements except the resourceelements to be used for a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the at least one physical resource blockpair, comprise at least one enhanced Resource Element Group (eREG);mapping each eCCE of the at least one eCCE onto at least one eREGaccording to a number of valid resource elements comprised in each eREGof at least one eREG; and receiving the at least one eCCE by using theresource elements comprised in the eREG; wherein each eREG of the atleast one eREG in each of the at least one physical resource block pairexcepting other overheads, comprises valid resource elements; and theother overheads comprise at least one of the following: a commonreference signal (CRS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH), a positioning reference signal (PRS),a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS).
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the mappingmakes a difference not greater than 5, wherein the difference is adifference between the numbers of valid resource elements occupied bytwo of plurality of eCCEs.
 5. A channel transmission apparatuscomprising: a processor; and a computer-readable storage medium storinga program to be executed by the processor, the program includinginstructions for: determining at least one physical resource block pairfor transmitting a control channel, which is formed by at least oneenhanced Control Channel Element (eCCE); wherein resource elementsexcept the resource elements to be used for a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) in each physical resource block pair of the at least onephysical resource block pair, comprise at least one enhanced ResourceElement Group (eREG); mapping each eCCE of the at least one eCCE onto atleast one eREG according to a number of valid resource elementscomprised in each eREG of at least one eREG; and receiving the at leastone eCCE by using the resource elements comprised in the eREG; whereineach eREG of the at least one eREG in each of the at least one physicalresource block pair excepting other overheads, comprises valid resourceelements; and the other overheads comprise at least one of thefollowing: a common reference signal (CRS), a physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), a positioningreference signal (PRS), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and asecondary synchronization signal (SSS).
 6. The control channeltransmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mapping makes adifference not greater than 5, wherein the difference is a differencebetween the numbers of valid resource elements occupied by two ofplurality of eCCEs.
 7. A channel transmission apparatus comprising: aprocessor; and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program tobe executed by the processor, the program including instructions for:determining at least one physical resource block pair for transmitting acontrol channel, which is formed by at least one enhanced ControlChannel Element (eCCE); wherein resource elements except the resourceelements to be used for a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in eachphysical resource block pair of the at least one physical resource blockpair, comprise at least one enhanced Resource Element Group (eREG);mapping each eCCE of the at least one eCCE onto at least one eREGaccording to a number of valid resource elements comprised in each eREGof at least one eREG; and sending the at least one eCCE by using theresource elements comprised in the eREG; wherein each eREG of the atleast one eREG in each of the at least one physical resource block pairexcepting other overheads, comprises valid resource elements; and theother overheads comprise at least one of the following: a commonreference signal (CRS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH), a positioning reference signal (PRS),a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS).
 8. The control channel transmission apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the mapping makes a difference not greater than 5,wherein the difference is a difference between the numbers of validresource elements occupied by two of plurality of eCCEs.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructionswhich cause the processor to: determine at least one physical resourceblock pair that are used to transmit a control channel, which is formedby at least one enhanced Control Channel Element (eCCE); whereinresource elements except the resource elements to be used for ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the at least one physical resource block pair, comprise at leastone enhanced Resource Element Group (eREG); map each eCCE of the atleast one eCCE onto at least one eREG according to a number of validresource elements comprised in each eREG of at least one eREG; and sendthe at least one eCCE by using the resource elements comprised in theeREG; wherein each eREG of the at least one eREG in each of the at leastone physical resource block pairs excepting other overheads, comprisesvalid resource elements; and the other overheads comprise at least oneof the following: a common reference signal (CRS), a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), apositioning reference signal (PRS), a primary synchronization signal(PSS), and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).
 10. The mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein the mapping makes a difference not greaterthan 5, wherein the difference is a difference between the numbers ofvalid resource elements occupied by two of plurality of eCCEs.
 11. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructionswhich cause the processor to: determine at least one physical resourceblock pair that are used to transmit a control channel, which is formedby at least one enhanced Control Channel Element (eCCE); whereinresource elements except the resource elements to be used for ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each physical resource blockpair of the at least one physical resource block pair, comprise at leastone enhanced Resource Element Group (eREG); map each eCCE of the atleast one eCCE onto at least one eREG according to a number of validresource elements comprised in each eREG of at least one eREG; andreceive the at least one eCCE by using the resource elements comprisedin the eREG; wherein each eREG of the at least one eREG in each of theat least one physical resource block pairs excepting other overheads,comprises valid resource elements; and the other overheads comprise atleast one of the following: a common reference signal (CRS), a physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), apositioning reference signal (PRS), a primary synchronization signal(PSS), and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).
 12. The mediumaccording to claim 11, wherein the mapping makes a difference notgreater than 5, wherein the difference is a difference between thenumbers of valid resource elements occupied by two of plurality ofeCCEs.